Hongli Sun working with members of his lab

Bioengineering, Tissue Engineering, Stem Cells, Biomaterials, and Materials Research

Core Research Area

The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is a worldwide leader in bio- and tissue-engineering of stem cells, and the development of biomaterials for use in new and exciting therapies.

The replacement of tissues and organs with synthetic materials has become an increasingly important therapeutic modality and raises important questions about tissue response to a variety of substances. In dentistry, the clinical use of dental implants has inspired collegiate faculty research that examines changes in implant surfaces that may affect the attachment of soft tissue to implant surfaces, facilitates integration of a prosthesis with bone, or addresses the relationship between osteoporosis and oral health. Applications include: restorative material adhesion, osseous tissue reconstruction, and tooth replacement therapies.

The division is comprised of the following individuals:

Chris Barwacz

DEO, Family Dentistry

Aditi Jain

MS, Clinical Associate Professor

Ariene Leme-Kraus

PhD, Assistant Professor

Anvita Maharishi

MMSc, Assistant Professor

Anelise Viapiana Masiero

PhD, Associate Professor

Kyungsup Shin

PhD, Ross D. Christensen Family Professor of Orthodontics

Hongli Sun

PhD, Associate Professor

Erica Teixeira

PhD, DEO, Operative Dentistry

Liu Hong

PhD, Professor

Cristina Vidal

PhD, Associate Professor

Updates

Iowa team advances gene treatment to prevent premature skull fusion in newborns

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

University of Iowa researchers, led by Dr. Brad Amendt, successfully tested a nano-sized packet that released a single gene to prevent craniosynostosis. The research team aims to begin human clinical trials in the next one to two years.

Unlocking the Secrets of Oral Tissue Regeneration: The Role of IRX1 in Wound Healing

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Brad Amendt’s lab received an NIH R56 grant with total costs $480,840 for 1 year to investigate the role of the IRX1 gene in the regulation of oral tissue repair and maintenance.

Jeff Banas working with a student researcher

Dr. Jeff Banas Receives Subaward for NIH-Funded Study on Innovative Dental Restoration Materials

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Dr. Jeff Banas has received an NIH subaward to support research on a novel dental material that resists biofilm buildup and secondary decay. In collaboration with East Carolina University, his lab will test antibacterial properties of new resin composites—advancing efforts to improve restoration longevity and patient oral health outcomes.

Iowa dental researchers receive exploratory grant to treat periodontitis-associated bone-loss

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

The National Institutes of Health awarded three Iowa dental researchers, Hongli Sun, Shaoping Zhang, and Erliang Zeng, a $660,000 exploratory grant to investigate an innovative strategy for treating bone loss that tends to accompany periodontitis. This strategy uses tissue engineering strategies that can reduce bone loss and regenerate bone tissue.

Iowa dental researchers selected for OVPR Award

Thursday, June 22, 2023

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) awarded Hongli Sun, Kyungsup Shin, and their co-principal investigator a $235K Interdisciplinary Scholars grant for their project investigating a novel approach to to orofacial cleft reconstruction.

Hongli Sun selected for Iowa Mid-Career Award

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Hongli Sun, associate professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, was one of four Iowa faculty members to receive the 2023 Iowa Mid-Career Faculty Scholar Award. The award recognizes some of the most promising scholars at Iowa with three years of financial support for their research. Sun is a rising star in the field of biomaterials and tissue engineering, focusing on innovative strategies to improve bone tissue regeneration.

Iowa Dental Faculty awarded major National Institutes of Health R01 grant

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

The National Institutes of Health awarded Shaoping Zhang, assistant professor of periodontics, and his team a 5-year, $1.95 million R01 grant to assess and understand the role of type I interferon (IFN-I) in periodontal disease. This major research project is part of Iowa Dentistry’s efforts to advance research and discovery—producing novel translational research that can treat those who suffer from periodontitis.

Dentistry faculty receives Nakao Foundation grant to compare restoration outcomes for older adults

Thursday, September 8, 2022

The Nakao Foundation awarded Akimasa Tsujimoto a 90K+ grant to compare outcomes of four restorative materials—glass hybrid, conventional glass ionomer cement, resin-modified glass ionomer cement, and resin-based composition restorations—among adults age 65 or older. In particular, the researchers are evaluating whether glass ionomer-based restorations may have superior clinical outcomes for this population than resin-based composite restorations.