Gloria A. Gronowicz, Ph.D.

Gronowicz Laboratory Research Interests

Our goals are to understand the mechanism for biocompatibility of materials in humans and to devise novel biomaterials that will augment bone formation, in particular in human aging and for patients with debilitating musculoskeletal diseases.

We are investigating the response of human osteoblasts to orthopaedic and dental implant materials, and also new implant materials. Presently we have projects studying the response of human osteoblasts to polyetheretherketone (PEEK) which is a partially crystalline polyaromatic linear thermoplastic (typically with 30 to 35 percent crystallinity). Another project involves the study of human osteoblasts from different ages of patients to tantalum that has been fabricated into a porous three dimensional structure, trabecular metal, which has biomechanical properties similar to human bone. Our study demonstrates an anabolic effect of tantalum on the proliferation of osteoblasts from older patients compared to those from younger patients, and compared to other common biomaterials. In another study, we are characterizing the osteogenic potential and hematopoetic components of bone fragments taken from patients that can then be used to augment bone formation. Finally, we are interested in the sequential release of growth factors from biomaterials so that bone formation can be stimulated in aging models.

Recent Publications

Zhang, H., M. Ahmad and G. Gronowicz, 2003. Effects of Transforming Growth Factor Beta on in vitro mineralization of osteoblasts on implant materials. Biomaterials 24:2013-2020.

Zhang, H., C.G. Lewis, M. Aronow and G. Gronowicz, 2004. The effect of patient age on human osteoblasts’ responses to implant materials in vitro J. Orthop. Res.22: 30-50.

Meinel, L., S. Hofmann, V. Karageorgiou, C. Kirker-Head, J. McCool, G. Gronowicz, L. Zichner, R. Langer, G. Vunjak-Novakovic and D.K. Kaplan, 2004. Evaluation of inflammatory responses of silk films: in vitro cell culture model and in vivo implantation. Biomaterials 26:147-155.

Butterfield, K.J., J Bennett, G Gronowicz, D Adams, 2005 Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma with autogenous bone graft for maxillary sinus augmentation in a rabbit model. J Oral Maxillofacial Surg. 63:370-6.

Zhang, H. and G. Gronowicz, 2005. Transforming Growth Factor-Beta 1(TGF-beta1) enhances age-dependent decrease in mineralization in primary human osteoblast/implant cultures. J. Biomed Biomat Res. 75A:98-105.62.

Pantschenko, A.G., W. Zhang, M. Nahounou, M.B. McCarthy, M.L. Stover, A.C. Lichtler, S. H. Clark and G. Gronowicz, 2005 The effect of osteoblast targeted expression of Bcl-2 in bone: differential response in male and female mice. J. Bone Mineral Res 20:1414-142.

Mauney, J.R., L. Abrahamson, C. Kirkeer-Head, G. Gronowicz, V. Volloch and D. L.Kaplan, 2006. Matrix-mediated retention of in vitro osteogenic differentiation potential and in vivo bone-forming capacity by human adult bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells during ex vivo expansion. J. Biomed Mater Res A. 79:464-75.

Kardestuncer, T., M.B. McCarthy, V. Karageorgiou, D. Kaplan and G. Gronowicz, 2006. RGD-tethered silk substrates stimulate the differentiation of human tendon cells. Clin. Orthopaedic Rel. Res. 448:234-239.

Hakim-Zargar, M., J. Chaudhry, A. Jhaveri, D. Kaplan, M. Aronow and G. Gronowicz, 2007. In vitro analysis of silk-RGD’s effects on human osteoblast proliferation, differentiation and integrin-mediated signaling pathways. Submitted for publication.

Sagomonyants, K., M. Jarman-Smith, J. Devine and G. Gronowicz, 2007. The response of human osteoblasts to Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) substrates. Provisionally accepted pending minor revisions.

View more publications, see Pubmed listing.