Biomaterials
Key staff: Professor John Nicholson
Biomaterials is mainly concerned with the chemistry of implantable cements for orthopaedic and dental applications.
These materials are compatible with biological hard tissue, and are capable of bonding to either teeth or bones. Various materials are under investigation, including glass-ionomer, phosphate-bonded and Portland cements. Studies are in progress on their bioactivity and ion-release properties.
Research
- Aluminium-free glass-ionomers for bone augmentation.
- Interaction of Portland cement with simulated body fluid.
- Mathematical modelling of ion-release behaviour of dental cements.
There are collaborations with universities in Belgium, Macedonia and Poland, as well as in the UK. The work is supported by funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and industry.
Publications
Adusei, G. O., Deb, S., and Nicholson, J. W. (2005) A preliminary study of experimental polyacid-modified composite resins (“compomers”) containing vinyl phosphonic acid. Dent. Mater., 21, pp. 491–497.
Coleman, N. J., Awosanya, K. and Nicholson, J. W. (2007). A preliminary investigation of the in vitro bioactivity of white Portland
cement. Cement & Concrete. Res. 37, 1518–1523.
Coleman, N. J., Bellatone, M., Nicholson, J. W. and Mendham, A. P. (2007). Textural and structural properties of bioactive glasses in the system CaO-SiO2. Ceramics-Silikaty (Czech Republic), 51, 1–8.
Coleman, N. J., and Nicholson, J. W. (2006) Glass bones. Education in Chemistry, 43, pp. 156–160.
Czarnecka, B., and Nicholson, J. W. (2006) Ion release by resin-modified glass-ionomers into water and lactic acid solutions. J. Dent. 34, pp. 539–543.
Nicholson, J. W. (2002) The chemistry of medical and dental materials. RSC: Cambridge.
Nicholson, J. W. (2007). Polyacid-modified composite resins (“compomers”) and their use in clinical dentistry. Dent. Mater. 23,
615–622.
Nicholson, J. W. (2007). Water transport in zinc oxy-chloride cements. Ceramics-Silikaty (Czech Republic), 51, 69–73.
Nicholson, J. W. and Czarnecka, B. (2007). Fluoridation for public dental health. Dental Forum, 35, 35–40.
Otulakowska, J., and Nicholson, J. W. (2006) Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray study of a recovered dental implant, J. Mater. Sci.; Mater. Med.17, pp. 277–279.