Department of Reactive Transport
In the Reactive Transport Department we study the heterogeneity of material surface reactivity, including sorption and dissolution reactions and material degradation. We use experimental and numerical methods to quantify and predict surface reaction rates using rate maps. Transport in complex porous materials is another important aspect of our work. We develop conservative and reactive radionuclide tracers using our cyclotron laboratory and apply positron emission tomography (PET). We use and develop numerical methods for transport analysis at the pore scale and above. Our research is motivated and driven by applications in nuclear safety research and we provide critical links to earth, environmental and materials sciences.
Latest publication
Dental surface restoration using Ca-caseinate bio/nano colloids: converged roughness parameters reveal heterogeneous tooth surface reactivity
Schymura, S.; Schneider, E.; Messerschmidt, J.; Lechner, B.-D.
Abstract
Dental erosion, the chemical dissolution of the tooth surface structures, is an increasing problem in the modern world due to growing trends toward acidic food consumption and can cause permanent dental hard tissue loss. A detailed understanding of the reactivity of dental surfaces to chemicals invading the oral cavity is necessary to devise effective countermeasures. We introduce the use of converged roughness parameters Sqconv, i.e., roughness parameters calculated at a reduced field of view, to reflect the critical surface building blocks controlling the reactivity, as measured by white light vertical scanning interferometry. By analyzing Sqconv maps and their histograms, we gain detailed spatiotemporal insights into the surface alterations during processes such as acidic tooth demineralization and remineralization of eroded dental surfaces, harnessing the potential of readily available, easy-to-apply Ca caseinate. Furthermore, the impact of fluoridation on the dental surface reactivity is investigated. We find that the reactivity of the dentine surface is inherently inhomogeneous, with rough surface features being more reactive to erosion/demineralization, remineralization, and fluoridation. Our data reveal that de- and remineralization are mechanistically reversible processes, and both are potentially inhibited by surface fluoridation. However, this can be avoided by utilizing fluoride addition during Ca caseinate remineralization in a combined approach to build up new material that is more resistant to acidic impact. We demonstrate that the growth of biomimetic hydroxyapatite during remineralization occurs at a rate 3 orders of magnitude slower than the demineralization.
Keywords: Tooth surface reactivity; converged roughness parameters; Tooth remineralization; Ca caseinate; Tooth Fluoridation; Tooth erosion
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Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 262(2026), 115497
DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2026.115497
Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-36139
Team
Head/ Administration | |||||
| Name | Bld./Office | +49 351 260 | Position/Tasks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prof. Dr. Cornelius Fischer | L9.3/212 | 4660 | c.fischer | Head of Department | |
| Katrin Gerstner | L9.3/217 | 4601 | k.gerstner | Secretary's office / Administration Reactive Transport / Experimental Neurooncological Radiopharmacy | |
| Nadja Pedrosa Gil | L9.3/221 | 4690 | n.pedrosa-gil | Business administration Reactive Transport & Business administration Experimental Neurooncological Radiopharmacy 2 nd Deputy of the Equal Opportunity Officer | |
Employees | |||||
| Name | Bld./Office | +49 351 260 | Position/Tasks | ||
| Sieglinde Holzknecht | L9.3/222 | 4664 | s.holzknecht | PhD Student | |
| Dr. Johannes Kulenkampff | L9.3/202 | 4663 | j.kulenkampff | Research Scientist | |
| Dr. Marcel Lindemann | L9.3/318 | 4671 | m.lindemann | Research Scientist | |
| Dr. habil. Holger Lippold | L9.3/401 | 4672 | h.lippold | Research Scientist | |
| Jing Liu | L9.3/211 | 4692 | j.liu | PhD Student | |
| Dagmar Lösel | L9.3/402 | 4673 | d.loesel | Laboratory technician | |
| Jann Schöngart | L9.3/222 | 4658 | j.schoengart | Research Scientist | |
| Claudia Schößler | L9.3/402 | 4674 | c.schoessler | Chemical laboratory technician | |
Other employees | |||||
| Name | Bld./Office | +49 351 260 | Position/Tasks | ||
| Dr. Karsten Franke | L9.3/318 | 4629 | k.franke | Research Associate | |
