The New York University College of Dentistry recently received more than $700,000 in new grants to advance biomaterials and biomimetics research.
The New York University College of Dentistry recently received more than $700,000 in new grants to advance biomaterials and biomimetics research.
Nobel Biocare awarded grants totaling $310,000 to Dr. Christian Stappert, an Assistant Professor of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, to study the clinical predictability of alumina and zirconia all-ceramic implant-supported abutments, crowns, and three-unit bridges using accelerated life testing, a process that simulates oral fatigue by chewing.
Nobel Biocare, Ivoclar Vivadent, and SS White awarded $275,000 to Dr. Nelson Silva, an Assistant Professor of Prosthodontics and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biomaterials & Biomimetics, to evaluate the durability of ceramic crowns, bridges and implants, and the effectiveness of using a primer, instead of potentially corrosive sandblasting, to prepare the surface of ceramic crowns and bridges for bonding to teeth and implant abutments.
The National Science Foundation awarded Dr. Yu Zhang, an Assistant Professor of Biomaterials & Biomimetics, a $120,000 grant to develop design principles for formulating composite materials in layers that gradually evolve in thickness from the surface to the interior, a process known as functional grading. Dr. Zhang uses computer modeling as well as a load-bearing simulation machine to test prototype glass-ceramic, metal-ceramic, ceramic-polymer, and multi-ceramic composites that could be used to increase load-bearing capabilities in items as small as a dental crown and as large as a construction support beam.
A one-year, $25,000 NYU Challenge Fund grant was awarded to Dr. John Ricci, an Associate Professor of Biomaterials & Biomimetics, and Ms. Elizabeth Clark, an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biomaterials & Biomimetics, to study the effectiveness of three-dimensional bone tissue scaffolds in regenerating long bone in the arms and legs of cancer and trauma patients without additional support form ceramic rods..
“These awards highlight the College’s expertise in every phase of dental and orthopedic materials development, from bench-top research to product testing,” said Dr. Van P. Thompson, Professor and Chair of the Department of Biomaterials & Biomimetics.