The present invention relates to a porous polymer material (or scaffold), and more particularly to a polymer-ceramic composite having interconnected pores and a porosity of about 50% to 90%. The scaffold is bioresorbable and exhibits advantageous mechanical properties that mimic those found in natural bone. Methods of preparing the scaffolds and using them in skeletal tissue engineering applications (e.g., as bone grafts to repair osteochondral defects and ligaments) is also described.

The present invention relates to a porous polymer material (or scaffold), and more particularly to a polymer-ceramic composite having interconnected pores and a porosity of about 50% to 90%. The scaffold is bioresorbable and exhibits advantageous mechanical properties that mimic those found in natural bone. Methods of preparing the scaffolds and using them in skeletal tissue engineering applications (e.g., as bone grafts to repair osteochondral defects and ligaments) is also described.

The disclosure relates to methods of making an osteoconductive polymer article for use as an orthopedic implant comprises steps of forming an article from a biocompatible, non-biodegradable polymer, the article comprising a non-flat surface with roughness Ra of at least 5 μm; providing a dispersion of bioactive ceramic particles of particle size at most 10 μm in a first solvent comprising a solvent for the polymer; coating at least the non-flat surface with the dispersion in at least one step; and rinsing the coated article with a second solvent being a non-solvent for the polymer to substantially remove the first solvent.

The present disclosure is directed to a composite implant for the sustained release of a therapeutic agent from a hydrogel matrix. The hydrogel matrix may be a cross-linked bioerodible polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel with a therapeutic complex dispersed within the cross-linked bioerodible PEG hydrogel. The therapeutic complex may include a therapeutic agent in association with mesoporous silica particles. The composite implant is configured to be delivered to or implanted into an eye of a subject or patient. The composite implant may be used treat ocular disease in a subject or patient. Ocular diseases may be selected from at least one of neovascular age related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema, or macular edema following retinal vein occlusion.

A composite powder containing microstructured particles obtainable by means of a method in which large particles are combined with small particles, wherein the large particles have an average particle diameter within the range from 0.1 μm to 10 mm, the large particles comprise at least one polymer, the small particles are arranged on the surface of the large particles and/or distributed inhomogeneously within the large particles, the small particles comprise sphere-shaped precipitated calcium carbonate particles having an average diameter within the range from 0.05 μm to 50.0 μm, wherein the sphere-shaped calcium carbonate particles are obtainable by means of a method in which
a. a calcium hydroxide suspension is initially charged,
b. carbon dioxide or a carbon dioxide-containing gas mixture is introduced into the suspension from step a. and
c. resultant calcium carbonate particles are separated off,
with 0.3% by weight to 0.7% by weight of at least one aminotrisalkylenephosphonic acid being further added. Preferred application areas of the composite powder encompass its use as additive, especially as polymer additive, as additive substance or starting material for compounding, for the production of components, for applications in medical technology and/or in microtechnology and/or for the production of foamed articles. The invention therefore also provides components obtainable by selective laser sintering of a composition comprising a composite powder according to the invention, except for implants for uses in the field of neurosurgery, oral surgery, jaw surgery, facial surgery, neck surgery, nose surgery and ear surgery as well as hand surgery, foot surgery, thorax surgery, rib surgery and shoulder surgery. The invention also provides the sphere-shaped calcium carbonate particles which can advantageously be used to produce the composite particles according to the invention, and the use thereof.

A composite powder containing microstructured particles obtainable by means of a method in which large particles are combined with small particles, wherein the large particles have an average particle diameter within the range from 0.1 μm to 10 mm, the large particles comprise at least one polymer, the small particles are arranged on the surface of the large particles and/or distributed inhomogeneously within the large particles, the small particles comprise sphere-shaped precipitated calcium carbonate particles having an average diameter within the range from 0.05 μm to 50.0 μm, wherein the sphere-shaped calcium carbonate particles are obtainable by means of a method in which
a. a calcium hydroxide suspension is initially charged,
b. carbon dioxide or a carbon dioxide-containing gas mixture is introduced into the suspension from step a. and
c. resultant calcium carbonate particles are separated off,
with 0.3% by weight to 0.7% by weight of at least one aminotrisalkylenephosphonic acid being further added. Preferred application areas of the composite powder encompass its use as additive, especially as polymer additive, as additive substance or starting material for compounding, for the production of components, for applications in medical technology and/or in microtechnology and/or for the production of foamed articles. The invention therefore also provides components obtainable by selective laser sintering of a composition comprising a composite powder according to the invention, except for implants for uses in the field of neurosurgery, oral surgery, jaw surgery, facial surgery, neck surgery, nose surgery and ear surgery as well as hand surgery, foot surgery, thorax surgery, rib surgery and shoulder surgery. The invention also provides the sphere-shaped calcium carbonate particles which can advantageously be used to produce the composite particles according to the invention, and the use thereof.

The present application provides biodegradable composite material comprising bioresorbable magnesium or magnesium alloy embedded in bioresorbable glass fiber reinforced polymer matrix, and a bioresorbable implant comprising the composite material. The present application also provides use of the composite material, and methods for preparing the composite material and a medical device of a part thereof.

An annuloplasty ring prosthesis comprising a frame having an outer surface; and a cover surrounding the frame. The cover comprises a bioprosthetic tissue that can be regenerative or fixed and non-regenerative. The frame can be bioabsorbable or non-degradable. A ring prosthesis and a method of manufacturing a ring prosthesis is also provided. The ring prosthesis comprising an elongated rod member formed into a substantially ring shape, the elongated rod member being formed substantially from a flat bioprosthetic tissue.

The present invention provides a technological platform for bone regeneration. More specifically, the invention provides an implant comprising a plurality of polymeric casings at least one of which encases a bone void filler and at least one reinforcement component. Also provided is a method of regenerating bone by implanting one or more implants according to the present invention to a bone repair site.

The disclosure relates to methods of making an osteoconductive polymer article for use as an orthopedic implant comprises steps of forming an article from a biocompatible, non-biodegradable polymer, the article comprising a non-flat surface with roughness Ra of at least 5 μm; providing a dispersion of bioactive ceramic particles of particle size at most 10 μm in a first solvent comprising a solvent for the polymer; coating at least the non-flat surface with the dispersion in at least one step; and rinsing the coated article with a second solvent being a non-solvent for the polymer to substantially remove the first solvent. Further disclosed is an osteoconductive polymer article for use as an orthopedic implant, which article is made from a biocompatible, non-biodegradable polymer and comprises a non-flat surface with roughness Ra of at least 5 μm, wherein bioactive ceramic particles of particle size at most 10 μm are partly embedded in the polymer at the surface of the article. The methods exhibit benefits in ease of modifying a surface layer with bioactive particles, applying mild conditions and not requiring use of further additives or post-treatments, or without significantly affecting bulk polymer properties, and result in an orthopedic implant article having particles adhering to the surface while still being accessible for interaction with surrounding tissue or fluid.