Targeted Remineralization Treatment Using Mineral Loaded Starch Nanoparticles

Nathan Jones, PhD | VP Technology, GreenMark Biomedical Inc.

How did you get into/ what drew you to this field/ role?

As an undergraduate exploring clinical cancer research, I realized that I could achieve my goals of improving healthcare more broadly by developing new medical technologies. This led me to pursue PhD training with Prof. Joerg Lahann at the University of Michigan, where I made and studied novel biopolymer nanotechnology devices. In collaboration with Prof. Brian Clarkson at the UM School of Dentistry, we made starch nanoparticles that target early tooth decay, and were excited by the potential of this technology to advance dentistry and positively impact patients worldwide.

What excites you about your work?

Fundamentally, I remain motivated by the clinical impact that our technologies can have on patients’ health and well-being. Day-to-day, being in a start-up environment is exciting and challenging – each day brings new challenges that are fun to tackle with the capable team we’ve assembled. As part of a small team, we all get to experience the gamut of work needed to operate a medical device company, from idea conception to product validation, manufacturing, clinical studies, and eventual product marketing.

What advice would you give to those who are considering getting involved in translational research/ product development?

While a strong understanding of the underlying science is and should remain a central goal of your basic training, make sure to not neglect the importance of entrepreneurial training. Effective translational research/ product development relies on understanding customer needs and critical value propositions that differentiate your work from what currently exists. You must be able to effectively communicate to both technical and non-technical audiences, describing the problem and how your research/product offers a compelling solution.

If you weren’t in your current career, what other profession would you like to try?

While I envy professional soccer players (or other athletes) for getting to play their chosen sport as a career, my personal mission to improve healthcare has me inspired by the clinicians and healthcare professionals that take care of patients. With some of our early clinical studies, I’ve gotten a sample of how personally fulfilling it can be to take care of a patient and work to find a solution to their medical needs, and I’m grateful to be in a position to try and develop the tools these clinicians can use to that end.

Nathan Jones, PhD | VP Technology, GreenMark Biomedical Inc. & Steven Bloembergen, PhD | Chairman & CEO, GreenMark Biomedical Inc.