Bones rubbing against each other. Stiffness. Pain. This is osteoarthritis. It's what happens when the cartilage and fluid in our joints break down, and it affects nearly 27 million Americans.
There's a number of different therapies for osteoarthritis - from pain management to injections of polysaccharides.... We're interested in making polymers that mimic the properties of these polysaccharides.
There's no cure for the disease, but Professor Mark Grinstaff has developed a promising treatment. Working with an orthopedic surgeon, Grinstaff invented a polymer that can be injected into arthritic knees, elbows and other joints to act as a cushion against wear and tear.
With seed funding from BU's Technology Development office, Grinstaff and colleagues founded a company, Flex Biomedical, that's working to bring the biolubricant to market. The company is completing preclinical tests before seeking FDA approval for the treatment.
Materials Science & Engineering
Degrees Offered
A Growing Need
Engineers with backgrounds in materials science understand the properties of various materials—from metals and semiconductors to biopolymers—and how to manipulate those materials to make useful products. Applications for new materials, and modifications of existing ones, are expected to keep the global demand for trained materials scientists growing in the twenty-first century. Engineers trained in the discipline readily find work in a number of fields, including:
- Energy
- Health care
- Information technologies
- Homeland security
An Interdisciplinary Focus
Our materials faculty members are internationally recognized, attract significant research funding and are developing revolutionary materials, processes and devices that impact everyday life. Materials science & engineering is a truly interdisciplinary field at BU—strong affiliations and collaborations exist between faculty from the College of Engineering, the College of Arts & Sciences and the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. We boast impressive research activities in biomaterials, electronic and photonic materials, materials for energy and the environment, and nanomaterials.
Where Do Our Alumni Work?
- Large corporations (IBM, General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, 3M, Lockheed Martin, Xerox, Corning, etc.)
- Start-up companies
- Universities
- Consulting firms
Degree Options
Graduate students may pursue the industry-focused Master of Engineering degree, or research-based Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy programs. Materials Science & Engineering is also available to undergraduates as a minor.
- Minor in Materials Science & Engineering
- Master of Engineering in Materials Science & Engineering
- Master of Science in Materials Science & Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science & Engineering
Visit the Division of Materials Science & Engineering website for more information.
Academics
- Find a Degree or Program
- Programs
- Special Programs
- Master of Engineering
- Graduate Certificate Programs
- Distance Learning Program
- Departments & Divisions
- Study Abroad
- Faculty