Department of Biomedical Engineering (Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering)Mechanobiology and Biomedical-Dental Engineering
Our laboratory is dedicated to addressing unresolved challenges in clinical dental medicine through the lens of regenerative biomedical engineering. We have been actively developing innovative biomaterials that enable the regeneration of bone and periodontal tissues and control of inflammation around dental implants. Particularly, we have focused on the application of biomimetic titanium nanosurfaces to induce cell differentiation and modulate immune responses, leading to the development of new technologies such as “Bioimplant” for the selective induction of periodontal tissue integration, as well as surface modification techniques to prevent peri-implantitis.
We also conduct mechanobiology research to elucidate the pathological mechanisms induced by occlusal and masticatory forces, focusing on how mechanical stimuli are sensed and processed by cells. Furthermore, we are committed to the interdisciplinary integration of dentistry and engineering by developing next-generation dental medical devices and educational support systems that incorporate artificial intelligence and computational technologies.
By aligning our research with clinical needs and promoting the social implementation of cutting-edge technologies, we aim to pioneer new frontiers in regenerative dental medicine.
Topics of Research
- Understanding Diseases Related to Occlusal and Masticatory Forces
We investigate how mechanical stimuli affect cells and contribute to disease mechanisms, aiming to establish a scientific foundation for personalized dental care. - Regenerative Therapy and Disease Modulation with Biomimetic Nanobiomaterials
Using nanoscale design, we develop advanced biomaterials that promote tissue regeneration while suppressing inflammation. - Development of Diagnostic Devices Using Nanotechnology
We create intraoral sensors and biofunctional chips capable of detecting subtle biological changes for early diagnosis and prognosis. - Redox-Based Regulation of Tissue Regeneration and Inflammation
By controlling intracellular redox balance, we explore new molecular strategies to enhance tissue healing and reduce pathological inflammation. - Translational Research for Regenerative Dental Medicine
Through collaboration with industry and strategic IP development, we accelerate the clinical and social implementation of regenerative technologies.
Recent Publications
- Fushimi, Kunihiro, Yamada, Masahiro, Watanabe, Jun, Washio, Jumpei, Takahashi, Nobuhiro, Egusa, Hiroshi: Moderate heating of waterline improves dental unit water quality by activating bactericidal properties of tap water. Journal of Dental Sciences, in press.
- Fushimi, Kunihiro, Watanabe, Jun, Yamada, Masahiro, Washio, Jumpei, Takahashi, Nobuhiro, Egusa, Hiroshi: Effects of flushing of dental waterlines in portable dental units on water quality management. Journal of Dental Sciences, 19: 2024.
- Kato, Eiji, Yamada, Masahiro, Kokubu, Eitoyo, Egusa, Hiroshi, Ishihara, Kazuyuki: Anisotropic patterns of nanospikes induces anti-biofouling and mechano-bactericidal effects of titanium nanosurfaces with electrical cue. Materials Today Bio, 29: 2024.
- He, Xindie, Yamada, Masahiro, Watanabe, Jun, Qu, Pengyu, Chen, Jiang, Egusa, Hiroshi: Titanium nanotopography enhances mechano-response of osteocyte three-dimensional network toward osteoblast activation. Biomaterials Advances, 163: 2024.
- Kondo, Takeru, Yamada, Masahiro, Egusa, Hiroshi: Innate immune regulation in dental implant osseointegration. Journal of Prosthodontic Research, 68(4): 2024.
- Tiskratok, Watcharaphol, Yamada, Masahiro, Watanabe, Jun, Pengyu, Qu, Kimura, Tsuyoshi, Egusa, Hiroshi: Mechanoregulation of Osteoclastogenesis-Inducing Potentials of Fibrosarcoma Cell Line by Substrate Stiffness. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(10): 2023.
- Nattasit, Praphawi, Niibe, Kunimichi, Yamada, Masahiro, Ohori-Morita, Yumi, Limraksasin, Phoonsuk, Tiskratok, Watcharaphol, Yamamoto, Masaya, Egusa, Hiroshi: Stiffness-Tunable Hydrogel-Sandwich Culture Modulates the YAP-Mediated Mechanoresponse in Induced-Pluripotent Stem Cell Embryoid Bodies and Augments Cardiomyocyte Differentiation. Macromolecular Bioscience, 23(7): 2023.
- Tiskratok, Watcharaphol, Yamada, Masahiro, Watanabe, Jun, Kartikasari, Nadia, Kimura, Tsuyoshi, Egusa, Hiroshi: Substrate stiffness controls proinflammatory responses in human gingival fibroblasts. Scientific Reports, 13(1): 2023.
- He, Xindie, Yamada, Masahiro, Watanabe, Jun, Tiskratok, Watcharaphol, Ishibashi, Minoru, Kitaura, Hideki, Mizoguchi, Itaru, Egusa, Hiroshi: Titanium nanotopography induces osteocyte lacunar-canalicular networks to strengthen osseointegration. Acta Biomaterialia, 151: 2022.
- Kartikasari, Nadia, Yamada, Masahiro, Watanabe, Jun, Tiskratok, Watcharaphol, He, Xindie, Egusa, Hiroshi: Titania nanospikes activate macrophage phagocytosis by ligand-independent contact stimulation. Scientific Reports, 12(1): 2022.
- Zhang, Maolin, Niibe, Kunimichi, Kondo, Takeru, Limraksasin, Phoonsuk, Okawa, Hiroko, Miao, Xinchao, Kamano, Yuya, Yamada, Masahiro, Jiang, Xinquan, Egusa, Hiroshi: Rapid and efficient generation of cartilage pellets from mouse induced pluripotent stem cells by transcriptional activation of BMP-4 with shaking culture. Journal of Tissue Engineering, 13: 2022.
- Yamada, Masahiro, Kimura, Tsuyoshi, Nakamura, Naoko, Watanabe, Jun, Kartikasari, Nadia, He, Xindie, Tiskratok, Watcharaphol, Yoshioka, Hayato, Shinno, Hidenori, Egusa, Hiroshi: Titanium Nanosurface with a Biomimetic Physical Microenvironment to Induce Endogenous Regeneration of the Periodontium. Acs Applied Materials & Interfaces, 14(24): 2022.
- Ohori-Morita, Yumi, Niibe, Kunimichi, Limraksasin, Phoonsuk, Nattasit, Praphawi, Miao, Xinchao, Yamada, Masahiro, Mabuchi, Yo, Matsuzaki, Yumi, Egusa, Hiroshi: Novel Mesenchymal Stem Cell Spheroids with Enhanced Stem Cell Characteristics and Bone Regeneration Ability. Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 11(4): 2022.
- Kartikasari, Nadia, Yamada, Masahiro, Watanabe, Jun, Tiskratok, Watcharaphol, He, Xindie, Kamano, Yuya, Egusa, Hiroshi: Titanium surface with nanospikes tunes macrophage polarization to produce inhibitory factors for osteoclastogenesis through nanotopographic cues. Acta Biomaterialia, 137: 2021.
- Limraksasin, Phoonsuk, Kosaka, Yukihiro, Zhang, Maolin, Horie, Naohiro, Kondo, Takeru, Okawa, Hiroko, Yamada, Masahiro, Egusa, Hiroshi: Shaking culture enhances chondrogenic differentiation of mouse induced pluripotent stem cell constructs. Scientific Reports, 10(1): 2020.
- Yamada, Masahiro, Watanabe, Jun, Ueno, Takeshi, Ogawa, Takahiro, Egusa, Hiroshi: Cytoprotective Preconditioning of Osteoblast-Like Cells with N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine for Bone Regeneration in Cell Therapy. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(20): 2019.
- Watanabe, Jun, Yamada, Masahiro, Niibe, Kunimichi, Zhang, Maolin, Kondo, Takeru, Ishibashi, Minoru, Egusa, Hiroshi: Preconditioning of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells with N-acetyl-L-cysteine enhances bone regeneration via reinforced resistance to oxidative stress. Biomaterials, 185: 2018.
- Yamada, Masahiro, Egusa, Hiroshi: Current bone substitutes for implant dentistry. Journal of Prosthodontic Research, 62(2): 2018.