A. Jon Goldberg, Ph.D.

Director

Goldberg Laboratory Research Interests

Our fundamental interest is to understand the relationship between a material’s microstructure and its mechanical/physical/biological properties so that novel materials can be rationally designed for various biomedical applications. There are currently three active projects.

Synthetic Catalyzed Mineralization
Recent discovery of the proteins responsible for biomineralization in primitive marine species has lead to the study of simplified synthetic analogs and in vitro use of these macromolecules for a wide range of applications is now envisioned. Working with Drs. Reza Kazemi, Maria Advincula, Nathan Cho and Takashi Komabayashi at the UConn Health Center and Dr. Patrick Mather at Syracuse University, we have been studying how the catalyzed silica system might be applied to dental needs. For example, we have discovered that catalyzed silicification reactions can be conducted on dentin surfaces and produce particles that can occlude dentin tubules, potentially reducing permeability and thus sensitivity and the likelihood of recurrent disease. Methods for controlling this reaction, its rate and the morphology of the particles are all under investigation.

Tissue Engineering
In collaboration with Dr. Liisa Kuhn we are studying how tissue engineering scaffolds can be designed to influence the development of human embryonic stem cells. This project is part of a large program lead by Dr. David Rowe on directing hES derived progenitor cells into musculoskeletal lineages, funded by the Connecticut initiative on human embryonic stem cells. Hydroxyapatite and collagen-based scaffolds are prepared in the laboratory and characterized with SEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, optical microscopy and profilometry. The response of various cell types to the substrate are monitored with traditional biochemical markers and novel GFP techniques.

Polyphenylene Polymers for Dental Applications
Polyphenylenes are advanced, high strength polymers that are currently being commercialized. We believe their properties could provide advantages as structural materials in several dental applications, replacing the metal alloys or composites currently in use. Extruded and compression molded shapes are being evaluated for mechanical properties and prototypes are being tested.

Recent Publications

Eckrote, K.A.; Burstone, C.J.; Freilich, M.A.; Messer, G.E.; and Goldberg, A.J. 2003. Shear in flexure of fiber composites with different end supports. J. Dent. Res. 82:262-266.

Rojanapitayakorn, P.; Mather, P.T.; Goldberg, A.J.; and Weiss, R.A. 2005. Optically transparent self-reinforced poly(ethylene terephthalate) composites: molecular orientation and mechanical properties. Polymer 46:761-773.

Advincula, M.C.; Patel, P.; Mather, P.T.; Mattson, T. and Goldberg, A.J. 2009. Polypeptide-catalyzed silica for dental applications. J. Biomed. Mat. Res. Part B: Applied Biomaterials 88B:321-331.

Goldberg, A.J.; Advincula, M.C.; Komabayashi, T.; Patel, P.A.; Mather, P.T.; Goberman, D.G. and Kazemi, R.B. 2009. Polypeptide-catalyzed biosilicification of dentin surfaces. J. Dent Res. (In Press).

Patel, P.A.; Eckart, J.; Advincula, M.C.; Goldberg, A.J.; and Mather, P.T. 2009. Rapid synthesis of polymer-silica hybrid nanofibers by biomimetic mineralization. Polymer (In Press, published online at 10.1016/j.polymer.2009.01.024).

Advincula, M.C.; Liu, Y.; Gronowicz, G.; Habibovic, P.; Goldberg, A.J. and Kuhn, L.T. 2009. A rapid, reproducible method for coating tissue culture polystyrene disk inserts with carbonated hydroxyapatite. J. Biomed. Mat. Res. Part B: Applied Biomaterials (Submitted).

View more publications, see Pubmed listing.