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Position
Senior Lecturer
Department
Department of Oral Sciences
Qualifications
BEng(Hons) (Sheffield) PhD (Otago)
Research summary
Biomaterials and tissue engineering
Teaching
  • Oral biology, biomaterials, materials science and engineering and research methodologies
  • DENT 552 Biomedical sciences 4 (Research Elective) module co-ordinator
  • DENT 462 Biomaterials paper co-ordinator
Memberships
  • European Society of Biomaterials (ESB)
  • Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (ASBTE)
  • International Association of Dental Research (IADR)
  • Materials Research Society (MRS)

Research

My primary research focus is on the development of novel biomaterials derived from sustainable waste by-products for biomedical applications. In particular, I am driven to add value to the co-products of New Zealand’s $NZ6 billion red meat export industry by transforming biological waste into high-performance materials for healthcare.

I have extensive expertise in the physicochemical characterisation of biomaterials using a range of analytical techniques, as well as in assessing their biocompatibility through in-vitro and in-vivo methods.

My secondary research interests include the development of endodontic materials for pulp capping, pulp biology, restorative dental materials, and innovations in dental education.

Current research strategies are focused on:

  • Developing novel bone grafts from bovine and ovine bone for bone regeneration applications
  • Developing bio-composite materials for biomedical applications (wound dressing, cleft lip palate repair, and orthopaedic applications)
  • Development and testing of a bovine-derived nanohydroxyapatite toothpaste for caries management
  • Development of a hybrid composite from natural Montmorillonite clay and waste bovine bone for dental restoration applications
  • Synthesis of A Triple-functionalised Multilayer on Porous CFR-PEEK Implants
  • Utilisation of rākau rongoā plant extracts as anti-inflammatory compounds for dental applications

Additional details

I serve as an adjunct Senior Lecturer at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), Sri Lanka. I have commercial collaborations with Colgate Palmolive Ltd, ANZCO foods and Intuitive 8 Healthcare LLC (India) and Universities in the UK, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, Sri Lanka and the USA.

Before moving to New Zealand, I served in the British and Sri Lankan military. Outside of work, you can find me on the cricket field or walking my two dogs.

Publications

Khurshid, Z., Cooper, P. R., Khan, A. S., Dias, G., Mazher, J., Moin, S. F., & Ratnayake, J. (2026). Demineralization of camel dentin for dental tissue engineering. International Dental Journal, 76, 109620. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2026.109620 Journal - Research Article

Prasad Kumara, P. A. A. S., Cooper, P. R., Cathro, P., Duncan, H. F., Gould, M., Dias, G., & Ratnayake, J. (2026). Development of a nano-hybrid composite using bovine hydroxyapatite and montmorillonite for endodontic applications: An in vitro study. International Endodontic Journal. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/iej.70163 Journal - Research Article

Jin, C., Farella, M., Brunton, P. A., Ratnayake, J., & Mei, L. (2026). Biomechanical properties of orthodontic vacuum-formed retainers: A scoping review. Seminars in Orthodontics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1053/j.sodo.2026.04.001 Journal - Research Article

Dias, S. N. G. P. J., Ratnayake, J., & Niranjan, R. (2026). Ion-substituted bovine hydroxyapatite for bone regeneration. (12,539,350). United States. Intellectual Property

Arora, S., Cooper, P. R., Friedlander, L. T., Ratnayake, J. T., Rizwan, S. B., Seo, B., Rich, A. M., & Hussaini, H. M. (2026). Differential expressions of inflammatory, dentinogenic, regulatory, proliferative and stemness genes in non-carious and carious human dental pulp tissues: An ex vivo proof-of-concept study. International Endodontic Journal. Advance online publication. Journal - Research Article

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