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The Biomaterials Interdisciplinary
program led by Dr.
David Eick has been in place for over a decade.
This program includes collaborations with Midwest Research
Institute and major industry such as 3M Company. Research
from this program has produced an oxirane/polyol dentalcomposite
system that will be available for clinical testing in
March of this year. The improvement of advanced dental
composites systems is greatly promoted when multi-disciplinary
teams of scientists come together with their talent,
laboratory resources, and equipment. Indeed, the purpose
of this program is to provide the synergistic focus
for the team of scientists to improve the low stress/low
shrinkage adhesive oxirane/polyol based composite system
and to understand more fully the underlining scientific
principals governing the behavior of these materials.The
specific aims for the overall project are:
- To focus our research efforts on understanding
the underlying scientific principles governing the
behavior of oxirane/polyol based composite systems;
- Through two cores to provide administrative,
statistical, and budgetary support for the investigators,
consultants, and program directors and to provide
biocompatibility testing for the new materials;
- Through four R01 subprojects to employ
computer modeling to develop low stress/low shrinkage
resin matrix materials and adhesives, to study genetic
and biomimetic responses of the new materials, and
to improve the composite system; and
- To continue to provide a stimulating
research environment for the scientists and graduate
students involved in this program.
A major thrust that has been added to
the Biomaterials program is the Bioengineering component
under the direction of Drs. Paulette Spencer and Lawrence
Katz. A fundamental focus of the Bioengineering component
is the examination for the micro- and nano- properties
and structure of natural biomaterials such as bone,
dentin and enamel. These studies which are clearly aligned
with both the Biomaterials and Bone Biology programs
are conducted within the UMKC Center for Research on
Interfacial Structure and Properties (UMKC-CRISP).
A primary and fundamental goal of UMKC-CRISP is to provide
a research environment that serves as a catalyst for
collaborative investigations focused on applying the
principles of biological systems to the hierarchal design,
synthesis and application of biomaterials. In contrast
to the usual protocol for development of materials,
UMKC-CRISP researchers will use the knowledge and understanding
derived from biological systems to drive the development
of biomaterials that will have the qualities necessary
for long-lived functional adaptation and interaction
at the cellular, tissue and organ levels. The facilities
with UMKC-CRISP provide scientists with state-of-the-art
instrumentation for structure/property characterization
of synthetic materials, biological tissues and the material/tissue
interface. The resources available within UMKC-CRISP
provide investigators the opportunity to explore the
spectrum of opportunities represented by the integration
of biology and engineering.
Dr. David Eick
Dr. Paulette Spencer
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