Miguez et al., Scientific Reports 2024.
Assessment of extracellular matrix organization via picrosirius red (PSR) staining of rat mandibles. Native bone at the edge of the mandible appears within white dotted line. (A) Upper border of the mandible defect treated with scaffold alone shows small area of bone formation in faint green/yellow birefringence
pattern at 40× magnification. (B) Extensive green staining pattern of newly regenerated bone when 1μ BMP2 was infused in scaffold (no HE supplementation). (C) In the presence of dietary HE supplementation, BMP2-
induced regenerated bone showed evidence of red-colored collagen fibrils. (D) NFB in all HE-treated animals showed statistically greater red color appearance. Differences statistically significant as quantified by MatLab
software and analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test (n = 8, p < 0.05) are depicted in (E) *p < 0.05 compared to scaffold group; **p < 0.05 compared to BMP group. (F) At 200x, note that in HE-treated rats, the polarized imaged area around osteocytes (lacunae) is marked by yellow and red matrix suggesting active
osteocyte function even in the native bone area (blue arrow) as opposed to the much less-defined osteocyte lacunae of rats not on dietary HE (G). Scale bar indicate 200 μm.
Control of tissue homeostasis by the extracellular matrix: Synthetic heparan sulfate as a promising therapeutic for periodontal health and bone regeneration. Copyrighted image. Miguez et al., Periodontology 2000 2023
Systemic Dietary Hesperidin Modulation of Osteoclastogenesis, Bone Homeostasis and Periodontal Disease in Mice. Copyrighted image. More on De Paiva et al., IJMS 2022
Human alveolar bone healing 8 weeks post tooth extraction. Healing can be affected by phytochemicals. More on Souza Jr. et al., Dent J 2020
Erosion in dentin surface and demineralized collagen structure. Copyrighted image. More on Beltrame et al., Caries Research 2018
Bone regeneration via use of biologic biglycan. Copyrighted image. Miguez et al., JDR 2014 (cover)
Dentin mineralization pattern and collagen directionallity in dentin. Copyrighted image. Miguez et al., JDR 2004
BONE AND DENTIN BIOLOGY, DISEASE AND REGENERATION
On the research arena, my primary research interests are in mineralized tissue {bone & dentin} maintenance and regeneration and understanding the role of the extracellular matrix proteins {collagen and proteoglycans} and glycosaminoglycans in these processes and in oral diseases, such as periodontal disease and caries, dental erosion, diabetes, cancer, etc. I am also interested in dietary local delivery interventions using phytochemicals/botanicals and understanding the mechanism of their matrix modifying and cell behavior effects and how they could contribute to prevent dentin/bone degradation. Of note, via control of inflammation, ECM molecules and their biomodifications can regulate immunity. More recently, I have engaged in development of matrix-inspired scaffolding for dentin and bone repair/regeneration applications.
Current projects in our lab:
Biglycan Functions in Bone Biology and Diseases
Glycosaminoglycans in Bone Maintenance
Phytochemicals in Bone Healing and Dentin Bio-modification
Host Modulation in the Periodontium via Dietary Compounds
Biomodification of the Dentin Hybrid Layer Collagen
Dentin Repair by Bioactive Materials
ECM-inspired Scaffolds for Craniofacial Regeneration
Novel Modulators of Periodontal and Bone Homeostasis
Projects with other labs:
Peptide-mediated Bone Regeneration
Knock out models in the context of matrix and bone biology including role of autophagy players in bone homeostasis
Smart Delivery Systems of Therapeutics for Periodontal and Bone Maintenance
ECM influence in cancer spreading
Keywords: laboratory, basic research, translational research, dentin, bone, biglycan, proteoglycan, collagen, regeneration, repair, mineralization, remineralization, erosion, periodontal disease, caries, biomaterials, chitosan, carbohydrates, aging
On a volunteer basis, we welcome enthusiastic undergraduate researchers. To get the most out of your experience, we recommend committing at least 3 consecutive hours on 3 consecutive (preferably) days to the lab.
Animal research is conducted in the lab under IACUC approval.
{curiosity is more important than knowledge – A. Einstein}