An orthopedic implant having a metal surface and a calcium phosphate layer disposed on at least part of the metal surface is described. The calcium phosphate layer has an average crystallite size of less than about 100 nm in at least one direction and dissolves for more than 2 hours in vitro. The calcium phosphate layer is substantially free of carbonate. The coating, which is formed on a sodium titanate surface, has increased shear strength and tensile strength. The coating is formed by a solution deposited hydroxyapatite process under inert conditions. The pH of the solution varies by less than 0.1 pH unit/hour during coating formation.

Disclosed are kits for preparing a reactive graft material and injecting the graft material into a patient. Kits may include a first syringe containing a first powdered component and a second syringe containing a second powdered component that is reactive with the first powdered component when the first and second powdered components are dispersed in a diluent solution. The kits may further include a vial sealed by a septum and containing the diluent solution. A syringe connector may be included that has a connector at each end configured to make a fluidic connection to, respectively, the first syringe and the second syringe, and also comprises a passageway adapted to allow fluid to pass between the syringes when the syringes are both fluidically connected to the syringe connector. A vial adapter comprising a connector adapted for fluidically connecting to at least one of the first syringe and the second syringe, a passageway adapted to allow fluid to pass from the vial into a syringe fluidically connected to the connector of the vial adapter, and a spike in fluidic communication with the passageway of the vial adapter may be included. The spike is adapted for piercing the septum of the vial. Certain kits also contain one or more needles for delivery of the graft material to a site within a body of a patient.

The invention features methods and compositions for (i) controlling the amount of peptide bound to calcium phosphate particles; and (ii) for tightly binding peptide to the surface of calcium phosphate particles. The methods and compositions can be useful for preparing implants useful for promoting bone deposition at the site of implantation, and for repairing a variety of orthopedic conditions.

Methods have been discovered that make it possible to continuously extrude tubes of P4HB and copolymers thereof. These methods allow tubes of P4HB and copolymers thereof to be produced without radial deformation of the tubes despite the slow crystallization of the polymer and copolymers. The methods can produce tubes of P4HB and copolymers thereof with tightly defined outside and inside diameters which are required for medical application. These tubes are produced by radial expansion at temperatures above the melting temperature of P4HB and copolymers thereof, and using low tube cooling temperatures and prolonged cooling times. The tubes made from P4HB and copolymers thereof are flexible, and can be prepared with high elongation to break values.

The invention relates to hardenable ceramic bone substitute compositions having improved setting, powders for such compositions and methods for their manufacture and use in medical treatment. More specifically the invention relates to hardenable bone substitute powder and hardenable bone substitute paste with improved setting properties, comprising calcium sulfate and heat-treated hydroxyapatite (passivated HA), which bone substitute is suitable for treatment of disorders of supportive tissue such as bone loss, bone fracture, bone trauma and osteomyelitis.

Compositions of small molecules, matrices, and isolated cells including methods of preparation, and methods for differentiation, trans-differentiation, and proliferation of animal cells into the osteoblast cell lineage were described. Examples of osteogenic materials that were administered to cells or co-cultured with cells are represented by compounds of Formula II, IV, and VI independently or preferably in combination with a matrix to afford bone cells. Small molecule-stimulated cells were also combined with a matrix, placed with a cellular adhesive or material carrier and implanted to a site in an animal for bone repair. Matrix pretreated with compounds of Formula II, IV, and VI were also used to cause cells to migrate to the matrix that is of use for therapeutic purposes.

The present invention relates to a carrier composition for particulate and granular bone substitute materials which is a hydrogel comprising a mixture of ethylene oxide (EO)-propylene oxide (PO) block copolymers and silica nanoparticles embedded therein. The present invention further relates to a bone substitute material containing osteoconductive and/or osteoinductive particles or granules in addition to the novel carrier composition. Processes for producing the novel carrier composition and the novel bone substitute material are likewise provided in the context of the invention.

The invention provides a particulate composition adapted for forming a bone graft substitute cement upon mixing with an aqueous solution, comprising i) a calcium sulfate hemihydrate powder, wherein the calcium sulfate hemihydrate is present at a concentration of at least about 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the particulate composition; ii) a monocalcium phosphate monohydrate powder; iii) a non-porous β-tricalcium phosphate powder; and iv) a porous β-tricalcium phosphate powder. Bone graft substitute cements made therefrom, a bone graft substitute kit comprising the particulate composition, methods of making and using the particulate composition, and articles made from the bone graft substitute cement are also provided.

A method is disclosed for coating and patterning hydrogels in order to modify surface properties. The method exploits the water content of the hydrogel and the hydrophobicity of the reaction solvent to create a thin oxide adhesion layer on the hydrogel surface. This oxide adhesion layer enables rapid transformation of the hydrophilic, cell non-adhesive hydrogel into either a highly hydrophobic or a cell-adhesive hydrogel by reaction with an alkylphosphonic acid or an α,ω-diphosphonoalkane, respectively. Also disclosed are coated, patterned hydrogels and constructs comprising the coated, patterned hydrogels.

Provided is a nanofiber composite membrane for guided bone regeneration, which includes: spinning a spinning solution by an electrospinning method to produce nanofibers; accumulating the nanofibers, to prepare a certain thickness of a nanofiber web; and drying and thermally calendering the nanofiber web to sterilize the nanofiber web, wherein the spinning solution contains a biocompatible plasticizer to maintain physical properties, flexibility and elasticity of the membrane, by suppressing an increase in brittleness in a sterilization treatment.