Associate Professor Hala Zreiqat
NH&MRC Research Fellow
Head: Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Research Group
Biomedical Engineering

Room S511,
School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic  Engineering,
Building J07, The University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006.

Founder of the Sydney University Tissue Engineering Network (SuTEN).
Convenor of the SuTEN 2006 and 2008 Symposia.

Phone: + 61 2 9351 2392
Phone: + 61 2 9036 6469 (Lab, 1st Floor Rm S183)
Fax: + 61 2 9351 7060
Email: hzreiqat@usyd.edu.au
Qualifications: Bsc(Hons) Jordan PhD UNSW

Broad Research Areas

· Skeletal tissue engineering

· Biomaterials and scaffolds development

· Arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions

· Bone

· Cartilage

· Orthopaedics

· Dental

Specific Research Keywords

· Skeletal tissue/device interface

· Biomaterials

· Osseointegration

Research Highlights

The research in the Tissue Engineering laboratory is dedicated to developing:

1) Novel synthetic materials that combines high bioactivity and porous structure (for vascular and tissue invasion), biodegradability (allowing scaffold replacement), and mechanical strength (for load-bearing applications) for skeletal tissue regeneration. This will be a major biomedical and engineering advance, improving clinical outcomes and enabling a significantly wider application of restorative materials

2) Novel new implant material with improved osseous integration and improved strategies for long-term fixation of prostheses

Major Collaborations

A/Prof Christopher Little: Director, Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratories, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, University of Sydney.

Role of S100A8/S100A9 proteins in cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis

Professor David Kaplan, Tufts University

Biphasic scaffolds for long-term osteochondral defect repair

A/Prof Peter Pivonka, Faculty of Engineering, University of Western Australia

Use of computational modelling to estimate stiffness, strength and dissolution of the implants

Professor, Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, Columbia University

Biomimetic approach for bone tissue growth into 3D Scaffolds

Professor Jeremy Mao, Columbia University

Improve the healing of novel biomimetic bone scaffolds by delivery of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and determine their osteoinductivity

Prof Xuanyong Liu, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai

Plasma spray coating for orthopaedic implant applications

Current Staff

Senior researchers: Dr. Yogambha Ramaswamy, Dr. ZuFu Lu

Associate researcher: Dr. Goucheng Wang

Research assistants: Mrs Barbara James

Honorary Associate: Kazi Nahar

Postgraduate Students: Ms Annika Van-Hummel, Mr. Seyed-Iman Roohani-Esfahani and Ms Jiao Jiao Li

Honour students: Michael Georgamlis, Rebecca Moses, Yang Chih-Yi, Vivian Yang

Society Memberships & Professional Activities

· Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society.

· Australian & New Zealand Bone Orthopaedic Research Society

· Australian Orthopaedic Association

· Co-founder Sydney Basic Bone/Orthopaedic Research Group

· European Calcified Tissue Society

· Australian Society for Biomaterials

· European Society for Biomaterials

Major Funding Sources (since 2006)

First-named Chief Investigator (CIA) on all grants

· NHMRC Project Grant, Zreiqat H, Dunstan C, A$539,500 (2010-2012), Harnessing the physiological effects of strontium and zinc to produce novel biomaterials for orthopaedic applications

· ARC linkage grant: LP0991099: H Zreiqat; P Pivonka. $804,500 (2009-2012). Scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration and use in orthopaedic applications. Partner: Vesobu Pty Ltd

·   Rebecca Cooper Research Foundation, Developing novel scaffolds for osteochondral defects and orthopaedic prosthetic coatings for bone tissue regeneration and implant osseointegration, Zreiqat H, $20K, 2008.

· NHMRC Project Grant, Zreiqat H, Dunstan C, Novel coatings for orthopaedic implants, A$430,000 (2009–11)

· Australian Orthopaedic Association, Novel scaffolds for repairing bone defects, Zreiqat H, Little DG, Dunstan C, $58,658 (2008-09).

· Australian Academy of Science Fellowship, Zreiqat H, A$11,000 (2009)

· Rebecca Cooper Research Foundation, Developing better treatment and novel prosthetic implants for joint replacement damaged due to arthritis, equipment grant, Zreiqat H, $20K, 2007

· University of Sydney bridging Support Scheme: H Zreiqat, 2007, $70,000.

· Australian Research Council Discovery Project, DP0556403, Zreiqat H, Haynes D, Swain M, Anderson G, A$555,000 (2005-2007)

· National Health and Medical Research Project Grant, Zreiqat H, Haynes D, A$470,000 (2004–06)

Currently held grants

SINCE 2006

First-named Chief Investigator (CIA) on all grants

· NHMRC Project Grant, Zreiqat H, Dunstan C, A$539,500 (2010-2012), Harnessing the physiological effects of strontium and zinc to produce novel biomaterials for orthopaedic applications

· ARC linkage grant: LP0991099: H Zreiqat; P Pivonka. $804,500 (2009-2012). Scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration and use in orthopaedic applications. Partner: Vesobu Pty Ltd

· Rebecca Cooper Research Foundation, Developing novel scaffolds for osteochondral defects and orthopaedic prosthetic coatings for bone tissue regeneration and implant osseointegration, Zreiqat H, $20K, 2008.

· NHMRC Project Grant, Zreiqat H, Dunstan C, Novel coatings for orthopaedic implants, A$430,000 (2009–11)

· Australian Orthopaedic Association, Novel scaffolds for repairing bone defects, Zreiqat H, Little DG, Dunstan C, $58,658 (2008-09).

· Australian Academy of Science Fellowship, Zreiqat H, A$11,000 (2009)

· Rebecca Cooper Research Foundation, Developing better treatment and novel prosthetic implants for joint replacement damaged due to arthritis, equipment grant, Zreiqat H, $20K, 2007

· University of Sydney bridging Support Scheme: H Zreiqat, 2007, $70,000.

· Australian Research Council Discovery Project, DP0556403, Zreiqat H, Haynes D, Swain M, Anderson G, A$555,000 (2005-2007)

· National Health and Medical Research Project Grant, Zreiqat H, Haynes D, A$470,000 (2004–06)

· R Douglas Wright Biomedical Career Development Award, Zreiqat H, A$426,250 (2006–10)

Publications in Peer Reviewed Journals (since 2006)

1. Knabe C, Kraska B, Koch C, Gross U, Zreiqat H, Stiller M. A method for immunohistochemical detection of osteogenic markers in undecalcified bone sections. Biotech Histochem. 81(1):31–39, (2006).

2. Ma WJ, Ruys AJ, Mason RS, Martin PJ, Bendavid A, Liu Z, Ionescu M, Zreiqat H. DLC coatings: effects of physical and chemical properties on biological response. Biomaterials. 28(9):1620–28, (2007).

3. Oberholzer A, John T, Kohl B, Gust T, Müller RD, La Face D, Hutchins B, Zreiqat H, Ertel W, Schulze-Tanzil G. Adenoviral transduction of alginate derived chondrocytes is more efficient than using primary monolayer chondrocytes. Cell Tissue Res. 328(2):383–90, (2007).

4. Wu C, Ramaswamy Y, Kwik D, Zreiqat H, The effect of strontium incorporation into CaSiO(3) ceramics on their physical and biological properties. Biomaterials. 28(21):3171–81, (2007).

5. Zreiqat H, Howlett CR, Gronthos S, Hume D, Geczy CL. S100A8/S100A9 and their association with cartilage and bone. J Mol Histol. 38(5): 381-391, (2007).

6. Wu C, Ramaswamy Y, Boughton P, Zreiqat H. Improvement of mechanical and biological properties of porous CaSiO3 scaffolds by poly (D, L-lactic acid) modification, Acta Biomater, 4(2):343-353 (2008).

7. Wu C, Ramaswamy Y, Soeparto A, Zreiqat H. Incorporation of titanium into calcium silicate improved their chemical stability and biological properties. J Biomed Mater Res A 86(2):402-10, (2008).

8. Zhu Y, Wu C, Ramaswamy Y, Kockrick E, Simon P, Kaskel S, Zreiqat H. Preparation, Characterization and In Vitro Bioactivity of Mesoporous Bioactive Glasses (MBGs) Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering. Micropor Mesopor Mat, 112(1-3):494-503, (2008).

9. John T, Müller RD, Oberholzer A, Zreiqat H, Kohl B, Ertel W, Hostmann A, Tschoeke SK, Schulze-Tanzil G. Interleukin-10 modulates pro-apoptotic effects of TNF-alpha in human articular chondrocytes in vitro, Cytokine. 40(3):226-34, (2007).

10. Wu C, Ramaswamy Y, Gale D, Yang W, Xiao K, Zhang L, Yin Y, and Zreiqat H. Novel sphene coatings on Ti-6Al-4V for orthopaedic implants using sol-gel method. Acta Biomater. 4(3):569-76, (2008).

11. McMahon AC, Zreiqat H, Lowe, HC. Carotid artery stenting in the zucker rat: A novel, potentially "diabetes specific" model of in-stentrestenosis", Diab Vasc Dis Res. 5(2):145-6, (2008).

12. H Zreiqat, B James, D Brieger, L Kritharides, HC Lowe. Acute coronary stent thrombosis: insights into possible mechanism. Thromb Haemost., 99(5):976-7, (2008).

13. Wu C, Ramaswamy Y, Zhou H, Zreiqat H. Biological Response of Human Bone Cells to Zinc modified Ca-Si based Ceramics, Acta Biomater, 4(5):1487-97, (2008).

14. Ramaswamy Y, Wu C, Van Hummel A, Combes V, Grau G, Zreiqat H. The Responses of Osteoblasts, Osteoclasts & Endothelial Cells to Zirconium Modified Calcium-Silicate Based Ceramic, Biomaterials. 29(33):4392-402, (2008).

15. Wu CT, Ramaswamy Y, Chang J, Woods J, Chen YQ, Zreiqat H, The Effect of Zn Contents on Phase Composition, Chemical Stability and Cellular Bioactivity in Zn-Ca-Si System Ceramics. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 87B (2), 346-353, (2008)

16. Ramaswamy Y, Wu CT, Zhou H, Zreiqat H. Biological response of human bone cells to zinc-modified Ca-Si-based ceramics. Acta Biomater, 4(5): 1487-1497, (2008).

17. Hélary G, Poussard L, Zreiqat H, Migonney V. Functionalization of biomaterials for joint implant application. Bio-Medical Mater and Eng 18(4-5): 237–239 (2008).

18. Wang C, Gross KA, Anderson GI, Dunstan CR, Carbone A, Berger G, Ploska U, Zreiqat H. Bone growth is enhanced by novel bioceramic coatings on Ti alloy implants. J Biomed Mater Res A, 90(2):419-28, (2009).

19. Wu C, Ramaswamy Y, Liu X, Wang G, Zreiqat H. Plasma-sprayed CaTiSiO5 ceramic coating on Ti-6Al-4V with excellent bonding strength, stability and cellular bioactivity, J R Soc Interface. 6(31):159-68 (2009).

20. Wu C, Ramaswamy Y, Zhu Y, Zheng R, Appleyard R, Howard A, Zreiqat H. The effect of mesoporous bioglass on the physiochemical, biological and drug-release properties of poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) films. 30(12):2199-208, (2009).

21. Ramaswamy Y, Wu C, Dunstan CR, Hewson B, Eindorf T, Anderson GI, Zreiqat H. Sphene ceramics for orthopedic coating applications: An in vitro and in vivo study. Acta Biomater., 5(8):3192-204 (2009).

22. Schulze-Tanzil G, Zreiqat H, Sabat R, Kohl B, Halder A, Riccarda D. Interleukin-10 and Articular Cartilage: Experimental Therapeutical Approaches in Cartilage Disorders. Current Gene Therapy, Accepted, 25.05.2009. In press. (2009).

23. Wu C and Zreiqat H, Porous bioactive diopside (CaMgSi2O6) ceramic microspheres for drug delivery. Acta Biomater.ACTBIO1004, In press. (2009).

Book chapters

1. Howlett CR, Chen N, Zhang X, Akin FA, Haynes D, Hanley L, Revell P, Evans P, Zhou H, Zreiqat H, Title: The Effect of Biomaterial Chemistries on the Osteoblastic Molecular Phenotype and Osteogenesis: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies. In “Bone Tissue Engineering”. ed. J.E. Davies, em squared incorporated, Toronto, Canada, 240–255, (2000).

2. Knabe C, Howlett CR, Markovic B, Gildenhaar R, Berger G, Zreiqat H, The functional expression of osteoblasts grown on rapidly resorbable calcium phosphates, Bioceramics 15, Book Series: Key Engineering Materials. BenNissan B; Sher D; Walsh W (eds), 240-2:679-682, (2003).

3. Zreiqat H, Howlett CR, Zannettino A, Evans P, Knabe C, Schulze-Tanzil G, Shakibae GM Surface modification of bioceramics affect osteoblastic cells response. Bioceramics 15, Book Series: Key Engineering Materials. BenNissan B; Sher D; Walsh W (eds), 240-2:707-710, (2003).

4. Zreiqat H, Berger G, Gildenhaar R, Knabe C The functional expression of human bone-derived cells grown on rapidly resorbable calcium phosphate ceramics. Bioceramics 16, Book Series: Key Engineering Materials. Barbosa MA; Monteiro FJ; Correia R; Leon B (eds),  254-2:1059-1062, (2004)  

5. Wang CY, Duan YR, Markovic B, Barbara J, Howlett CR, Zhang XD, Zreiqat H, Quantitative analysis of osteoprotegerin and RANKL expression in osteoblast grown on different calcium phosphate ceramics, Bioceramics 16, Book Series: Key Engineering Materials. Barbosa MA; Monteiro FJ; Correia R; Leon B (eds), 254-2: 713-716, (2004).

6. Zreiqat H, Roest R, Valenzuela S, Millev A, Ben-Nissan B Human bone derived cell (HBDC) behaviour of sol-gel derived carbonate hydroxyapatite coatings on titanium alloy substrates. Bioceramics 17, Book Series: Key Engineering Materials, Li P; Zhang K; Colwell CW (eds), 284-286:541-544, (2005).

7. Ramaswamy Y, Ben-Nissan B, Roest R, Haynes D, Zreiqat H, Human osteoclasts behaviour on sol-gel derived carbonate hydroxyapatite coatings on anodized titanium alloy substrates. Bioceramics 17, Book Series: Key Engineering Materials, Nakamura T; Yamashita K; Neo M (eds), 309-311, 709-712, (2006).

8. Wen, M, Ruys A, Zreiqat H, Title: Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) as a Biocompatible Coating for Orthopaedics and Blood-Interfacing Applications – A Critical Review. In “Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering. In “Cellular response to biomaterials”, Woodhead Publishing Limited, based in Cambridge, UK), (2009).

9. Wu C, Chang J, Zreiqat H, Engineered Ca-Si Based Ceramics for Skeletal Tissue Reconstruction Book: Publishers: Trans Tech Publishers (Ttp), Switzerland. N. Sooraj Hussain and J. D. Santos. (eds): "Biomaterials for Bone Regenerative Medicine" (2009)