1. Current research activities

There is currently a great need in orthopaedic medicine for the development of artificial bone substrates that can be used to repair bone that would not otherwise re-grow. In addition to providing structural integrity bio-compatible bone substrate must encourage osteoblast colonization and mineralization in addition to being resorbable and non immunological. My research explores the use of Heparan Sulphate proteoglycans (HSPG) as growth promoting agents on artificial bone substrates. I am primarily using in vitro models of differentiating mouse and rat osteoblast cells to examine how these HSPG and other agents influence the growth, differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast cells. Through collaboration with the department of chemistry we are chemically modifying the surface of the biomaterials and attaching appropriate HSPG’s and complimenting growth factors we aim to optimize biomaterials for use in bone regeneration.

2. Keywords

Heparan Sulphate proteoglycans , PTH, osteoblast, biomaterial.

3. End-user applications


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4. Key publications

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5. Outreach activities

Not as Yet.

6. Key organisation membership

Not as Yet.

7. Early career researcher?

Yes.

8. Young investigator?

Yes.

9. Skills and expertise


• Not as Yet


10. Specialist equipment and infrastructure


• Not as Yet

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