A three-dimensional, biocompatible scaffold precursor composition for room-temperature printing a bio-compatible polymer/hydroxyapatite composite scaffold includes a room-temperature slurry, comprising a mixture of a sold phase that includes a mixture of tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP; Ca.sub.4(PO.sub.4).sub.2O) and dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA; CaHPO.sub.4), and a liquid phase that includes a polymer in a solvent. The solvent may be Ethanol (EtOH) or Tetrahydrofuran (THF), and the polymer may be polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polycaprolactone (PCL), or poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA). The slurry is printed at room temperature in aqueous phosphate (NaH.sub.2PO.sub.4) bath, which works as hardening accelerator, forming the polymer/hydroxyapatite composite scaffold.

The present invention relates to settable compositions for use in surgery. The invention also provides related compositions, including surgical kits and packages, as well as methods of making and using the settable compositions.

A method of manufacturing a resorbable, macroporous bioactive glass scaffold comprising approximately 15-45% CaO, 30-70% SiO.sub.2, 0-25% Na.sub.2O, 0-17% P.sub.2O.sub.5, 0-10% MgO and 0-5% CaF.sub.2 by mass percent, produced by mixing with pore forming agents and specified heat treatments.

A method of manufacturing a resorbable, macroporous bioactive glass scaffold comprising approximately 15-45% CaO, 30-70% SiO.sub.2, 0-25% Na.sub.2O, 0-17% P.sub.2O.sub.5, 0-10% MgO and 0-5% CaF.sub.2 by mass percent, produced by mixing with pore forming agents and specified heat treatments.

Reinforced biocomposite materials. According to at least some embodiments, medical implants are provided that incorporate novel structures, alignments, orientations and forms comprised of such reinforced bioabsorbable materials, as well as methods of treatment thereof.

Reinforced biocomposite materials. According to at least some embodiments, medical implants are provided that incorporate novel structures, alignments, orientations and forms comprised of such reinforced bioabsorbable materials, as well as methods of treatment thereof.

A method of making a hydroxyl-terminated thioketal diol is provided, the method comprising reacting a thioketal ester with a non-pyrophoric reducing agent to form a hydroxyl-terminated thioketal diol. The hydroxyl-terminated thioketal diol can be 2,2-(propane-2,2-diylbis(sulfanediyl)) diethanol. The non-pyrophoric reducing agent can be a sodium aluminum hydride, for example, sodium bis (2-methoxyethoxy)aluminum hydride. The thioketal ester can be dimethyl 2,2-(propane-2,2-diylbis(sulfanediyl)) diacetate. A biodegradable matrix prepared by reacting a hydroxyl-terminated thioketal diol with an isocyanate is provided. A method of making a biodegradable polyurethane composite is also provided.

A method of making a hydroxyl-terminated thioketal diol is provided, the method comprising reacting a thioketal ester with a non-pyrophoric reducing agent to form a hydroxyl-terminated thioketal diol. The hydroxyl-terminated thioketal diol can be 2,2-(propane-2,2-diylbis(sulfanediyl)) diethanol. The non-pyrophoric reducing agent can be a sodium aluminum hydride, for example, sodium bis (2-methoxyethoxy)aluminum hydride. The thioketal ester can be dimethyl 2,2-(propane-2,2-diylbis(sulfanediyl)) diacetate. A biodegradable matrix prepared by reacting a hydroxyl-terminated thioketal diol with an isocyanate is provided. A method of making a biodegradable polyurethane composite is also provided.

The invention relates to an implant material for filling bone defects, for bone regeneration, and for bone tissue engineering, to an implant comprising said material, and to methods for manufacturing such an implant. The hybrid implant material according to the invention comprises: a biodegradable polymer P soluble in at least one solvent S1 and insoluble in at least one solvent S, different from the solvent S1; and a bioactive glass made of SiO.sub.2 and CaO and optionally containing P.sub.2O.sub.5 and/or optionally doped with strontium, characterized in that said implant includes a layering of a porous part having more than 90% by number of pores whose largest dimension is greater than or equal to 100 μm, and a dense part (2, 20, 200, 2000, 20000) having more than 80% by number of pores whose largest dimension is less than 50 μm. The invention is useful in the field of bone regeneration, particularly in the field of bone tissue engineering.

The present invention is a method and device for treating solid tumors utilizing shear thinning biomaterials compositions containing beta- or alpha emitting radiation sources, polymer matrix, and/or radiopaque agent. The novel radioactive composition which is disclosed here, can be injected percutaneously or via transcatheter vascular route into the target environment for the locoregional treatment. This invention is comprised of a shear thinning biomaterial which, when combined with a radioactive isotope source, can provide a therapeutic dose of radiation locally to the tumor site minimizing the risk of damage to surrounding tissue. The device may be used either as the primary tumor treatment or for treatment of residual cancer cells after excision of the primary tumor. The present invention provides a method for making the shear thinning radioactive biomaterial composition, as well as a method for utilizing the composition as a part of the treatment method.