Current Research

A Strategy for Increasing Reparative Bone Mass in the Peri-Implant Environment.

Successful integration of osseous implants with host bone tissue, which is essential to optimal performance of the implant, can be adversely affected by pathological bone conditions such as osteoporosis, which results in osteopenia due to a perturbation of the balance between the bone resorption and bone formation processes.

Bone resorption is accomplished by osteoclasts, which create a local acidic environment by secreting protons through vacuolar proton pumps (V-ATPases). The acid causes dissolution of the mineral component of bone, a phenomenon known as resorption.

The secretion of the acid by the osteoclast proton pump can be interfered with by pharmacological agents called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These compounds intervene with the function of the proton pump and reduce the resorptive activity of the osteoclast, which consequently results in reduced local bone resorption.

We have demonstrated that by incorporating Bafilomycin A1, one of the most potent osteoclast proton pump inhibitors, into various material matrices, we can stimulate an increase in reparative bone mass around the materials and decrease resorption of the newly formed bone in the defect site in healthy and pathological bone tissue environments. This strategy offers promising applications in a variety of orthopaedic procedures.

Previous Research

My background is in Analytical Chemistry. During my doctoral studies, I was interested in uncovering the mechanism of extraction of various organic compounds by polyurethane membranes for applications in separation processes used in purification of industrial effluents.

Awards and Scholarships

• NSERC Postdoctoral Scholarship, National Award, 2000-2002.
• NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship, National Award, 1998-2000.
• Gordon P. Osler Graduate Scholarship, Institutional Award, 1997-1998.
• Duff Roblin Graduate Fellowship, Institutional Award, 1997-1998.
• R. H. Betts Scholarship, Institutional Award, 1996-1997.
• Chemistry Graduate Students’ Association Award, Departmental Award, 1995-1996.
• Dean’s Honour List, Faculty of Science, Univ. of Manitoba, 1992-1995.
• American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award for Analytical Chemistry, International Award, 1994-1995.
• Undergraduate Award for Instrumental Analysis, Departmental Award, 1994-1995.
• NSERC Summer Undergraduate Research Award, National Award, May-Sept 1994.
• NSERC Summer Undergraduate Research Award, National Award, May-Sept 1993.
• Women in the Physical Sciences Scholarship, Institutional Award, 1992-1995.
• NSERC Summer Undergraduate Research Award, National Award, May-Sept 1992.
• Reverend Joseph Hogg Scholarship, Institutional award, 1991-1993.
• Chown Centennial Entrance Scholarship, Institutional Award, 1991-1992.

Publications

Papers in Preparation:
K. Rzeszutek, F. Sarraf, J.E. Davies. Bafilomycin A1-Doped Resorbable Calcium Phosphate Implants Increase Local Bone Mass in Osteopenic Aged Rats. (will be submitted to Bone).

Published Papers:
K. Rzeszutek, F. Sarraf, J.E. Davies. Proton Pump Inhibitors Control Osteoclastic Resorption of Calcium Phosphate Implants and Stimulate Increased Local Reparative Bone Growth. J. Craniofac. Surg., Vol. 14, 2003, 301.

J. M. Karp, K. Rzeszutek, J.E. Davies. Fabrication of Precise Cylindrical Three-Dimensional Tissue Engineering Scaffolds for In Vitro and In Vivo Bone Engineering Applications. J. Craniofac. Surg. Vol. 14, 2003, 317.

K. Rzeszutek, F. Sarraf, J.E. Davies. Proton Pump Inhibitors Increase Local Reparative Bone Mass Around Calcium Phosphate Cement Implants In Aged Osteopenic Rats. Tissue Eng. Vol. 8(6), 2002, 1140.

K. Rzeszutek, L. Guo, J.E. Davies. Importance of Including Proteins in Experimental Models Aimed at Studying Reactive Surface Apatite Layers on Calcium Phosphates. Key Engineering Materials Vols. 218-220, 2002, 97-100, Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.

K. Rzeszutek, A. Chow. Extraction of Metal-Dye Association Complexes by Thin Ether-Type Polyurethane Membrane. J. Membrane Science, Vol. 181(2), 2001, 265-277.

K. Rzeszutek, A. Chow. The Use of Thin Polyurethane Membrane for the Removal of Organic Compounds from Aqueous Solution. Conf. Proc. Polyurethanes EXPO’99, Sept. 12-15, 1999, 561-568.

K. Rzeszutek, A. Chow. Transport of Organic Dyes through Ether-Type Polyurethane Membrane. Talanta, Vol. 49(4), 1999, 757-771.

K. Rzeszutek, A. Chow. An Investigation into the Sorption of Benzoic Acids by Polyurethane Membrane. Talanta, Vol. 47(3), 1998, 697-709.K. Rzeszutek, A. Chow. Extraction of Phenols using Polyurethane Membrane. Talanta, Vol. 46(4), 1998, 507-519.

Abstracts

49th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society. New Orleans, LA USA, Feb. 2-4, 2003, K. Rzeszutek, F. Sarraf, J.E. Davies.

5th International Meeting of the Tissue Engineering Society International. Kobe, Japan, Dec. 8-10, 2002, K. Rzeszutek, F. Sarraf, J.E. Davies.

17th European Conference on Biomaterials. Barcelona, Spain, Sept. 11-14, 2002, K. Rzeszutek, F. Sarraf, J.E. Davies.

IV World Congress of Biomechanics. Calgary, AB Canada, Aug. 4-9, 2002, K. Rzeszutek, D. Baksh, L. Guan, J.M. Karp, F. Sarraf, J.E. Davies.

Personal Interests

Kickboxing, weight training, cooking, wine tasting, interior decorating.