Peter J. Bonitatibus

Peter J. Bonitatibus is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Renssela Polytechnic Institute (RPI), specializing in inorganic and nanoparticle chemistry for diagnostic imaging and catalysis. His research focuses on intravenous nanoparticle-based CT contrast agents, particularly tantalum oxide formulations with biocompatible polymer shells, funded continuously by NIH since 2013 alongside NSF and industry partnerships.

His educational background includes:

• B.S. in Chemistry from Fairfield University (1993) with Pfizer Fellowship Award research in manganese-oxo clusters
• Ph.D. with Honors in Chemistry from Boston College (1999) studying low-valent vanadium compounds
• Postdoctoral research at MIT (2001) with Nobel Laureate R. Schrock on organometallic polymerization catalysts

Prof. Bonitatibus' research centers on nanoparticle-based CT contrast agents for reduced radiation dose and new imaging applications, leveraging liquid-phase synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles. His secondary focus spans organometallic catalysis (especially hydrosilation) and metals in medicine, with expertise in designing novel organosilanes, hydrosilation catalysts, and characterization via crystallography and EPR spectroscopy. He teaches Inorganic Chemistry II (CHEM 4010) annually at RPI.

His 10 most recent publications (2016-2022) reveal dual research trajectories: (1) preclinical development of tantalum oxide CT contrast agents addressing obesity imaging challenges and dual-energy optimization, and (2) fundamental studies of vanadium/zirconium complexes advancing catalyst design and structural characterization. This work bridges materials synthesis with clinical translation, emphasizing radiation dose reduction and novel imaging applications.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Pfizer Fellowship Award (undergraduate research)

As Principal Investigator, he currently leads NIH SBIR (HL152877-01), NSF MRI (x-ray diffractometer acquisition), and Momentive-sponsored hydrosilation catalyst projects, building on prior NIH R01-EB015476 (2013-2017) and DOE collaborations. His 15 U.S. patents and 45+ publications reflect translational impact, while his role as journal/conference reviewer for DOE, JACS, ACS Nano, and WMIS demonstrates scholarly leadership.

Prof. Bonitatibus operates within RPI's Center for Materials, Devices, and Integrated Systems (CMDIS), collaborating with UCSF, Rochester, and industry partners to advance nanoparticle technologies from synthesis through preclinical validation, with current efforts focused on vascular contrast agents for spectral CT applications.