CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT:
Professor Van P. Thompson

ASSOCIATE CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT:
Professor Racquel Z. LeGeros

DIRECTOR OF GRADUATE STUDIES:
Professor Van P. Thompson

CODIRECTOR OF GRADUATE STUDIES:
Associate Professor John L. Ricci

The Department of Biomaterials Science of the Graduate School of Arts and Science is also known as the Department of Biomaterials and Biomimetics of the New York University College of Dentistry. The course of study offered by the department includes a research thesis defense and leads to a Master of Science degree in biomaterials science. Specialized courses are available through collaborative arrangements with other departments in the Graduate School of Arts and Science.

The mission of the M.S. program is to provide education and training in biomaterials science and state-of-the art technology and ultimately contribute to improving human health through biomaterials-based treatment modalities. To achieve this, goals include the following:

1. Provide students with knowledge and training that will prepare them for careers in research and development in academia and industry.
2. Enhance the students’ understanding of biomaterials-based treatment modalities by providing them with a broad background in biomaterials structure, fabrication, function, and interactions with cells and tissues.
3. Train students in understanding and performing scientific research, along with scientific presentation and critique.
4. Serve as a basis for further advanced studies, e.g., Ph.D. programs in biology and health sciences.

The program utilizes the faculty and facilities of the Department of Biomaterials Science, which includes the Hard Tissue Research Unit and the Calcium Phosphate Research Laboratory, as well as other components of the department, for both the core curriculum in biomaterials and various electives. Those courses in the Graduate School of Arts and Science that are appropriate for this program are also available to the student.

The Department of Biomaterials Science is involved in materials science research in areas of metallurgy, polymer chemistry, and ceramics related to biomaterials. The areas of present activity are in resin and ceramic biomaterials, dental cements, dental resins, dental and orthopedic implant surfaces and coatings, calcium phosphate-based biomaterials, biomineralization, cell/material interactions, investigations of bone and teeth as materials, and tissue engineering.

The following research equipment is available for graduate student research projects: an extensively equipped image analysis lab; mechanical testing equipment (Instron; Romulus IV universal material tester; Chatillon tensile tester with Bencor Multi-T attachment; Enduratec Elf 3300 biaxial fatigue testing systems with mouth motion wear simulation; TestResources mechanical tester); a Sabri oral simulating wear test apparatus; environmental scanning electron microscopes (SEM) with backscattered electron imaging systems; X-ray diffraction (XRD); energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX); Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy; inductive coupled plasma (ICP); and thermogravimetry (TGA/DTA/DSC), as well as other small bench lab equipment.

Faculty

Timothy Bromage, Professor, Biomaterials and Biomimetics, Basic Science. Ph.D. 1986 (biological anthropology), M.A. 1980 (biological anthropology), Toronto; B.A. 1978 (anthropology, biology, geology), California State (Sonoma).
Comparative bone and skeletal development and environmental reconstruction; craniofacial development and architecture; human paleontology; skeletal changes in outer space; light and scanning electron microscopy; digital image processing; skeletal abnormalities resulting from gene knockout mouse experimentation; African Plio-Pleistocene and Mediterranean Pleistocene fieldwork.

Elizabeth A. Clark, Adjunct Instructor, Biomaterials and Biomimetics. M.S. 1987, Connecticut.
Cell and molecular biology; cell and tissue response to biomaterials; general dental biomaterials testing and applications.

John P. LeGeros, Adjunct Professor, Biomaterials and Biomimetics; Director, Technology Transfer; Codirector, Calcium Phosphate Research Laboratory. Ph.D. 1969, Western Ontario; M.S., B.S. 1956, South Dakota State.
Implant coating technology (plasma-spray, electrochemical deposition); implant or device surface modifications; calcium-phosphate-based biomaterials (bioceramics) and implant coatings.

Racquel Zapanta LeGeros, Leonard Linkow Professor of Implant Dentistry; Professor, Biomaterials and Biomimetics; Associate Chair, Department of Biomaterials and Biomimetics; Director, Calcium Phosphate Research Laboratory. Ph.D. 1967 (biochemistry), M.S. 1957 (organic chemistry), New York; B.S. 1954 (chemistry), Adamson.
Calcium phosphates associated with normal (enamel, dentin, bone) and pathological calcifications (e.g., dental calculus, vascular calcifications) or diseased states (e.g., dental caries, osteoporosis); preparation and characterization of calcium phosphate-based biomaterials (bioceramics, composites, cements, scaffolds, implant coatings); implant surface modifications; biomineralization; tissue engineering.

Mitchell S. Pines, Clinical Professor, Biomaterials and Biomimetics. D.D.S. 1975, New York; B.S. 1971 (aerospace engineering), Pittsburgh.
Dental implants; dental restorative materials; dental casting alloys.

Dianne Rekow, Professor, Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology, Orthodontics; Chair, Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology; Director, Translational Research. Ph.D. (1988 biomedical engineering), M.S.M.E. 1979, Minnesota; M.B.A. 1978, St. Thomas; B.S.M.E. 1970, B.S. 1966 (physics and mathematics), Minnesota.
Performance and properties of brittle materials; tissue response to scaffolds, machinable ceramics, optimizing performance and properties.

John L. Ricci, Associate Professor, Biomaterials and Biomimetics. Ph.D. 1984 (anatomy), Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; B.S. 1977, Muhlenberg College.
Cell and tissue response to permanent and resorbable biomaterials and medical devices; effects of surface microstructure and other surface modifications on cell and tissue response; bone and soft tissue repair and regeneration.

Cristina M. C. Teixeira, Assistant Professor, Orthodontics, Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology. Ph.D. 2001, D.M.D. 2001, Certificate 1997 (orthodontics), M.S. 1997, D.D.S. 1992, Porto.
Cell and molecular biology of growth plate chondrocyte differentiation, maturation, and apoptosis; mechanism of Pi-induced apoptosis in chondrocyte and the role of mitochondria in this process, nitrous oxide in chondrogenesis, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in knockout mouse with marked limb defects; studies of overexpression of nitric oxide synthesis affecting endochondral bone formation and tissue engineering of endochondral bone.

Van P. Thompson, Professor, Biomaterials and Biomimetics; Chair, Department of Biomaterials and Biomimetics. D.D.S. 1979, Maryland; Ph.D. 1971, B.S. 1966, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Materials and design research in fixed restorative dentistry; resin-bonded bridges and prostheses; damage accumulation in dental crowns; crown design; properties of enamel and dentin; tissue engineering and tissue response to scaffolds.

Yu Zhang, Assistant Professor, Biomaterials and Biomimetics. Ph.D. 2002, Monash.
Materials and design research in dental ceramics; bioactive glass materials.

AFFILIATED AND ADJUNCT FACULTY

Gary Robert Goldstein, Professor, Prosthodontics, Biomaterials and Biomimetics. Diplomate 1985, American Board of Prosthodontics; Certificate 1972 (prosthodontics), D.D.S. 1969, New York.
Dental implants; restorative materials; biotechnical devices.

Bapanaiah Penugonda, Associate Professor, General Dentistry. M.S. 1982 (dental materials science), New York; B.D.S. 1974 (dental surgery), Osmania.
Clinical research; evaluation and development of dental restorative biomaterials.

Teresita Salgado, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, Biomaterials and Biomimetics. M.S. 1999, D.D.S. 1988, New York; B.S. 1979, University of the East (Philippines).
Titanium surface modifications; tooth surface modifications.

Hanna Lujon Upton, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biomaterials and Biomimetics. Ph.D. 1995 (organic/polymer chemistry), B.S. 1987 (chemistry), New York.
Polymer synthesis, hydrogels, dental restorative materials research.