University of Maryland School of Dentistry

Professor, Director of Division Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering

Dr. Huakun Xu is a Professor and the Chair of the Department of Biomaterials and Regenerative Dental Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), School of Dentistry (SOD). He directs the dental biomaterials courses, and is a Founding Member of the Center for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine at UMB. Dr. Xu and his group have mentored and trained over two dozen PhD students, who have obtained PhD degrees from UMB and have become professors and leaders in their fields.

Dr. Xu has obtained many R01 and R21 grants from NIH on dental biomaterials and tissue engineering research. He is currently a PI on a R01 grant on stem cells and bone regenerations, a PI on another R01 on dental multi-functional resins, and a PI on a Maryland Stem Cell Research grant. Dr. Xu has won many awards, including the prestigious IADR/AADR Distinguished Scientist Award, IADR/AADR William J. Gies Award, and Maryland Innovator of the Year Award.

The research of Dr. Xu’s group focuses on the development of novel dental bioactive and therapeutic materials, as well as stem cells, scaffolds and tissue regeneration. His team develops new dental biomaterials including nanocomposites and nanostructured adhesives. They possess bioactive and therapeutic properties, with protein-repellent, acid-neutralizing, remineralizing and antibacterial capabilities. His lab investigates physical and biological properties, biomaterial-biofilm interactions, oral biofilm acid production, dental remineralization, and caries inhibition. In addition, they develop novel tissue engineering scaffolds and the enhancements of bone and vascular regeneration. Their multidisciplinary team uses state-of-the-art synthesis facilities and innovative engineering methods to investigate stem cells and cell-scaffold interactions, and to quantify tissue regeneration in animal defects.

Dr. Xu has authored over 400 peer-reviewed full-length articles in leading journals.
Huakun Xu Google Scholar April 2026 has Citations = 34,539, h-index = 108, i10-index = 320.

TEACHING ACTIVITY

• Course Director, Dental Biomaterials I (BMAT 518) for Year 1 dental students
• Course Director, Dental Biomaterials II (BMAT 528) for Year 2 dental students
• Course Director, Adv Dent Mater (Pros 598A) for dental residents
• Course Director, DBMS 639 - Advanced Biomaterials l for PhD students
• Course Director, DBMS 640 - Advanced Biomaterials ll for PhD students

RESEARCH INTEREST

• Tissue engineering, bone regeneration, dental and craniofacial repair, bioactive and resorbable scaffolds, biomimetic and injectable carriers, stem cells, growth factor delivery
• Dental materials, nanocomposites, tooth restorations, caries inhibition, fluoride-based materials, calcium phosphate biomaterials, smart biocomposites, controlled release.