Dental Material
This division deals with materials research related to dentistry and other disciplines. Activities within the division include teaching and multidisciplinary research.
Teaching
The division coordinates the Dental Materials course. The Dental Materials course is taught and delivered to dental program students in BDS I (OHSC 1007A) and BDS III (OHSC 2009A).
Research
Niche areas
Staff and postgraduate students (MSc, PhD) conduct materials research. Small organic compounds and nanomaterials (metallic, polymeric and carbon based) are designed, prepared and studied towards application as preventive dental materials, antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer agents.
The research interests may be grouped into three main areas. These areas involve the use of nanomaterials as: (i) preventative dental materials, (ii) antifungal and antibacterial agents and (iii) anticancer agents.
Current Research Projects
- Evaluation of mercury vapor levels associated with amalgam usage at the Wits Oral Health C
- Bioactivity of drug loaded pH-responsive polymer nanocomposites
- Bioactivity of levelunic acid analogues and their pH-responsive nanocomposites
- Virtual screening and pharmacophore modelling of small bioactive compounds: DNA topoisomerase I inhibitors
- Effect of Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia (DVA) derived flavone stabilized nanoparticles on growth and pathogenicity of Candida albicans
- Monitoring and Evaluation Contributions to Gendered Policies and Gender Mainstreaming at Wits University