The
Division of
Biomaterials
in the
Department of
Comprehensive
Dentistry and
Biomaterials
is responsible
for teaching
and research
in
biomaterials
and dental
materials. An
advanced
dental
materials
course is
offered to
residents and
fellows. The
division
supports
Advanced
Education
programs and
the research
activities of
faculty,
students, and
residents in
the school. It
has several
laboratories
located on the
sixth and
eighth floors
of the Clinic
Building in
the LSUHSC
School of
Dentistry,
with a total
space of over
3000 square
feet. The
laboratories
are equipped
with
state-of-the-art
analytical and
testing
instruments
(see list of
major
equipment).
Currently the
division has
two faculty
members, Dr.
Xu and Dr.
Wen, and three
research
associates.
Biography
Dr.
Xiaoming Xu
obtained his
BS degree in
1981 and
Master's
degree 1984,
both in
Metallurgical
Engineering
from Central
South
University in
China. He
obtained his
Ph.D. degree
in Chemistry
in 1996 from
University of
New Orleans.
He was trained
under Dr. John
Burgess as
postdoctoral
research
associate in
Dental
Materials at
Louisiana
State
University
Health
Sciences
Center, School
of Dentistry.
He joined the
faculty of
this school in
2001. He was
promoted to
Associate
Professor with
tenure and
appointed as
Director of
Biomaterials
Research in
2006. Dr. Xu
was appointed
as Head,
Division of
Biomaterials
in 2009 and
was awarded
the Jack
Sheridan
Endowed
Professorship
in 2009. He
was promoted
to full
professor in
2011.
Research
Interests
Dr. Xu's
primary
research
interest is in
dental
materials and
biomaterials,
include dental
composites,
nanocomposites,
sealants,
bonding
agents,
cements, and
scaffolds for
tissue
engineering.
The focus of
the research
is to develop
novel dental
and biological
materials that
have
functionalities
of
caries-inhibiting,
antibacterial,
or
remineralization
as well as
excellent
physical and
mechanical
properties.
Funded by a
NIH/NIDCR R01
grant, Dr.
Xu's current
major research
project is
"High
performance
antibacterial
fluoride-releasing
dental
materials".
Tooth decay
(dental
caries) is the
most prevalent
chronic oral
disease. The
current
treatment is
to remove the
decayed tooth
tissues and
restore teeth
with filling
materials such
as dental
composites.
Currently,
composite
restorations
have a limited
service life
(5-7 years)
and their
replacement
accounts for
60% of dental
operations.
The leading
cause for the
failure of
composite
restorations
is the
development of
secondary
caries caused
by bacterial
biofilms at
the
restoration
margin.
Although much
effort has
been directed
towards the
development of
dental
materials that
can inhibit
bacterial
biofilms and
reduce
secondary
cavities, most
have had
either poor
mechanical
properties or
an
unacceptable,
dark shade,
such as
silver-containing
materials. Dr.
Xu's group has
been
developing a
series of
novel
antibacterial
fluoride-releasing
materials
(dental
composites,
bonding agents
and sealants)
that have
shown enhanced
fluoride-releasing
and recharge
capabilities,
promising
antibacterial
effect, and
good
physicomechanical
properties or
bonding
strength. This
new grant will
support
further
development of
these
promising
materials. The
researchers
will test a
combination of
new
technologies
such as
antibacterial
monomers with
different
chain lengths
and
nanoparticles
for controlled
release of
antibacterial
agents in
response to pH
values. The
long-term goal
is to develop
a new
generation of
dental
materials that
have a high
efficacy to
inhibit oral
biofilm
formation as
well as
excellent
physical and
mechanical
properties.
Another
major aspect
of Dr. Xu's
research is
the
fabrication of
functional and
crosslinked
polymer
nanofibers for
tissue
engineering
and other
biological
applications.
Dr. Xu has
developed a
novel
technology
called
"Reactive
Electrospinning",
which combines
electrospinning
with in situ
chemical or
photochemical
reactions.
This
technology can
produce
cross-linked
microfibers
and nanofibers
with different
functionalities
such as
hydrophilic
yet
water-insoluble,
chelating, or
antimicrobial.
Such novel
materials may
potentially
have wide
applications
in tissue
engineering
and
regenerative
medicine.
Dr. Xu's
lab also
conduct in
vitro
tests and
evaluation of
dental
materials and
biomaterials
for their
mechanical
properties,
bonding
strength, wear
and surface
roughness,
thermal
properties,
hardness,
fracture
toughness,
polymerization
shrinkage,
color
stability, and
translucency.
These research
projects are
often
collaborated
with dental
materials
manufacturers.
They also
provide
opportunity
for students
and residents
research.
Research
Interests--Keywords
Dental
materials,
composites,
bonding
agents,
sealants,
biofilms,
caries,
nanofibers,
electrospinning.
Teaching
Activities
Advanced
Dental
Materials
Science,
Research
Methodologies,
and Dental
Grand Rounds
Selective
Publications
Yapin
Wang, Stephen
Costin,
Jian-Feng
Zhang, Sumei
Liao, Zezhang
T. Wen, Thomas
Lallier,
Qingzhao Yu, Xu,
X.
Synthesis,
antibacterial
activity, and
biocompatibility
of new
antibacterial
dental
monomers. Am J
Dent 2018;
31(Sp Is
B):17B-23B.
Song Hong,
Yan Lu, Masao
Morita, Shun
Saito, Yuichi
Kobayashi,
Bokkyoo Jun,
Nicolas G.
Bazan,
Xiaoming Xu,
Yapin Wang.
Stereoselective
Synthesis of
Maresin-Like
Lipid
Mediators,
SynLett, 2019,
30, 343–347.
DOI:
10.1055/s-0037-1612011.
Mesa TR,
Xu X, Cehreli
ZC, Founier
SE, Brashier
CT, Yu Q.,
Townsend JA.
Effect of
Light Cure
Methods for
Intermediate
Adhesive Layer
on
Microleakage
of Sealants.
An in vitro
Study. The
Journal of
Clinical
Pediatric
Dentistry.
2019 43 (4)
262-267
DOI:10.17796/1053-4625-43.4.7.
Herman JL,
Wang Y, Lilly
E, Lallier T,
Hamdan S, Xu,
X,
Fidel PL Jr,
Noverr MC.
Synthesis,
Antifungal
Activity, and
Biocompatibility
of novel DABCO
Compounds and
DABCO-
containing
Denture Base
Resins.
Antimicrobial
Agents and
Chemotherapy.
2017, 61(4)
e02575-16.
Epperson
M, Vazirani N,
Armbruster PC,
Kee EL, Xu,
X,
Ballard RW.
Hybrid Crowns
– Bonding
Protocols and
Shear Bond
Strength Austrailian
Orthodontic
Journal.
2017;33:40-47
Lestrade
A, Ballard R,
Xu X,
Yu Q, Kee E,
Armbruster P.
Porcelain
Surface
Conditioning
Protocols and
Shear Bond
Strength of
Orthodontic
Brackets on
the Posterior
Dentition. Australian
Orthodontic
Journal.
2016;32:18-22.
Xiao Y,
Gong T, Jiang
Y, Wang Y, Wen
ZT, Zhou S,
Bao C, Xu,
X.
Fabrication
and
characterization
of a
glucose-sensitive
antibacterial
chitosane
polyethylene
oxide
hydrogel. Polymer
2016, 82,
1-10.