阅读说明：本技术 混入生物活性无机添加剂的热塑性材料 (Thermoplastic material incorporating bioactive inorganic additives ) 是由 B·普拉布 M·达塞坦 S·博达克 A·卡劳 M·克内贝尔 R·利齐奥 S·冯卡萨-维尔 于 2019-03-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：包含热塑性聚合物材料如聚芳醚酮(PAEK)和无机添加剂物类的复合材料,所述无机添加剂物类用于提高所述热塑性聚合物材料的加工性能和由此导致的机械、热和生物学特性,在将两种材料通过热处理方法混合后,所述复合材料随后可用于各种医疗应用。无机添加剂物类可以是钙盐,并可以包含氟离子。(Composite materials comprising a thermoplastic polymeric material, such as a Polyaryletherketone (PAEK), and inorganic additive species for improving the processability and the resulting mechanical, thermal and biological properties of the thermoplastic polymeric material, which composite materials are subsequently useful in various medical applications after the two materials have been mixed by a heat treatment process. The inorganic additive species may be a calcium salt and may contain fluoride ions.)

1. An orthopaedic bioactive composition having enhanced flowability and enhanced ductility, the composition comprising a composite material comprising:

a. a high viscosity biocompatible polymer matrix; and

b. the additive is uniformly distributed in the water-soluble polymer,

wherein the polymer matrix comprises a Polyaryletherketone (PAEK), more preferably Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and wherein the additive comprises an additive species for improving melt processability, article mechanical properties and bioactivity.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer matrix comprises a powder prior to processing and has an average diameter of from about 5 μ ι η to about 2,500 μ ι η, more preferably from 10 μ ι η to about 1,000 μ ι η, most preferably from 50 μ ι η to about 500 μ ι η.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the powder has about 1.15 g/cm³To about 1.5 g/cm³The density of (c).

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material has a mass of 5 kg at 400 ℃ inAbout 13 cm³A/10 min to about 15 cm³Melt volume flow Rate (MVR) of 10 min.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer matrix has an elongation at break of about 55% to about 70%.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the additive acts as a flow aid.

7. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the additive comprises particles having an average particle size of from 0.2 μ ι η to 1.5 μ ι η, more preferably from 0.35 μ ι η to 1.2 μ ι η, most preferably from 0.5 μ ι η to 1.0 μ ι η.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the additive comprises a calcium salt.

9. The composition of claim 8, wherein the calcium salt is hydrolyzed.

10. The composition of claim 8, wherein the calcium salt is carbonated.

11. The composition of claim 8, wherein the calcium salt comprises a salt selected from calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, and calcium carbonate.

12. The composition of claim 1, wherein the additive comprises tricalcium phosphate.

13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the tricalcium phosphate comprises beta-tricalcium phosphate.

14. The composition of claim 1, wherein the additive comprises biphasic calcium phosphate.

15. The composition according to claim 14, wherein the biphasic calcium phosphate contains a blend of hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate in a ratio of 20:80, more preferably 40:60, most preferably 80: 20.

16. The composition of claim 1, wherein the additive comprises a weight ratio of 1 to 35 wt.%, more preferably 10 to 30 wt.%, most preferably 15 to 25 wt.% of the composition.

17. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composite material has about 9cm at 400 ℃ and 5 kg mass³A/10 min to about 12 cm³Melt volume flow rate of 10 min.

18. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composite has an elongation at break of about 25% to about 50%.

19. An orthopaedic bioactive composition having enhanced strength, the composition comprising a composite material comprising:

a. a high strength biocompatible polymer matrix; and

b. a uniformly distributed bioactive additive containing a dopant,

wherein the polymer matrix comprises a Polyaryletherketone (PAEK), more preferably Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and wherein the dopant-containing bioactive additive comprises an additive species for improving melt processability, article mechanical properties and bioactivity.

20. The composition of claim 19, wherein the polymer matrix comprises a powder prior to processing and has an average diameter of from about 5 μ ι η to about 2,500 μ ι η, more preferably from 10 μ ι η to about 1,000 μ ι η, most preferably from 50 μ ι η to about 500 μ ι η.

21. The composition of claim 20, wherein the powder has about 1.15 g/cm³To about1.5 g/cm³The density of (c).

22. The composition of claim 19, wherein the polymer matrix has a tensile strength of about 88 MPa to about 92 MPa.

23. The composition of claim 19, wherein the dopant is selected from the group consisting of fluorine, magnesium, zinc, strontium, barium, and bismuth.

24. The composition of claim 19, wherein the dopant is fluorine.

25. The composition of claim 19, wherein the dopant comprises from about 1 mol% to about 5 mol% of the additive.

26. The composition of claim 19, wherein the additive acts as a flow aid to improve processability.

27. The composition according to claim 19, wherein the average particle size of the dopant-containing bioactive additive is from 0.2 μ ι η to 1.5 μ ι η, more preferably from 0.35 μ ι η to 1.2 μ ι η, most preferably from 0.5 μ ι η to 1.0 μ ι η.

28. The composition of claim 19, wherein the dopant-containing bioactive additive comprises a calcium salt.

29. The composition of claim 28, wherein the calcium salt is hydrolyzed.

30. The composition of claim 28, wherein the calcium salt is carbonated.

31. The composition of claim 28, wherein the calcium salt comprises a salt selected from the group consisting of calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, and calcium carbonate.

32. The composition of claim 19, wherein the dopant-containing bioactive additive comprises calcium phosphate fluoride.

33. The composition of claim 32, wherein the fluorinated calcium phosphate comprises fluorapatite.

34. The composition of claim 19, wherein the dopant-containing bioactive additive comprises from about 1% to 35%, more preferably from 10% to 30%, most preferably from 15% to 25% by weight of the composition.

35. The composition of claim 19, wherein the composite has a tensile strength of about 85 MPa to about 105 MPa.

36. An orthopaedic bioactive composition having enhanced strength, enhanced ductility and enhanced flowability, the composition comprising a composite material comprising:

a. a high viscosity, high strength biocompatible polymer matrix; and

b. a bioactive additive blend of uniformly distributed additive species,

wherein the polymer matrix comprises a Polyaryletherketone (PAEK), more preferably Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and wherein the bioactive additive blend comprises an additive species for improving melt processability, article mechanical properties and bioactivity.

37. The composition of claim 36, wherein the polymer matrix comprises a powder prior to processing.

38. The composition of claim 36, wherein the polymer matrix comprises a powder prior to processing and has an average diameter of from about 5 μ ι η to about 2,500 μ ι η, more preferably from 10 μ ι η to about 1,000 μ ι η, most preferably from 50 μ ι η to about 500 μ ι η.

39. The composition of claim 38, wherein the powder has about 1.15 g/cm³To about 1.5 g/cm³The density of (c).

40. The composition of claim 36, wherein the polymer matrix has a tensile strength of about 88 MPa to about 92 MPa.

41. The composition of claim 36, wherein the polymer matrix has an elongation at break of about 55% to about 70%.

42. The composition of claim 36, wherein the polymeric material has about 13 cm at 400 ℃ and 5 kg mass³A/10 min to about 15 cm³Melt volume flow rate of 10 min.

43. The composition of claim 36, wherein the bioactive additive acts as a flow aid.

44. The composition of claim 36, wherein the bioactive additive blend comprises an average particle size of from 0.2 μ ι η to 1.5 μ ι η, more preferably from 0.35 μ ι η to 1.2 μ ι η, most preferably from 0.5 μ ι η to 1.0 μ ι η.

45. The composition of claim 36, wherein the blend comprises a calcium salt.

46. The composition of claim 45, wherein the calcium salt is hydrolyzed.

47. The composition of claim 45, wherein the calcium salt is carbonated.

48. The composition according to claim 45, wherein the calcium salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate and calcium carbonate.

49. The composition of claim 48, wherein the calcium salt may be doped.

50. The composition of claim 36, wherein the weight ratio of the blend is from about 1:4 to about 4: 1.

51. The composition of claim 36, wherein the blend comprises about 3% to about 18% by weight of fluorapatite.

52. The composition of claim 36, wherein the blend comprises from about 18% to about 3% by weight tricalcium phosphate.

53. The composition of claim 36, wherein the composite has a tensile strength of about 85 MPa to about 100 MPa.

54. The composition of claim 36, wherein the composite has an elongation at break of about 30% to about 50%.

55. The composition of claim 36, wherein the composite material has about 5 cm at 400 ℃ and 5 kg mass ³A/10 min to about 25 cm³Melt volume flow rate of 10 min.

56. An orthopaedic bioactive composition having enhanced flowability, the composition comprising a composite material comprising:

a. a high viscosity biocompatible polymer matrix; and

b. the biological active additive is evenly distributed on the surface of the substrate,

wherein the polymer matrix comprises a Polyaryletherketone (PAEK), more preferably Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and wherein the bioactive additive comprises an additive species for improving melt processability, article mechanical properties and bioactivity.

57. The composition of claim 56, wherein the polymer matrix comprises a powder prior to processing.

58. The composition according to claim 56, wherein the polymer matrix comprises a powder prior to processing and has an average diameter of from about 5 μm to about 2,500 μm, more preferably from 10 μm to about 1,000 μm, most preferably from 50 μm to about 500 μm.

59. The composition of claim 57, wherein the powder has about 1.15 g/cm³To about 1.5 g/cm³The density of (c).

60. The composition of claim 56, wherein the polymeric material has about 13 cm³A/10 min to about 15 cm ³Melt volume flow rate of 10 min.

61. A composition according to claim 56, wherein the additive comprises particles having an average particle size of from 0.2 μm to 1.5 μm, more preferably from 0.35 μm to 1.2 μm, most preferably from 0.5 μm to 1.0 μm.

62. The composition of claim 56, wherein the additive comprises a calcium salt.

63. The composition of claim 62, wherein the calcium salt is hydrolyzed.

64. The composition according to claim 62, wherein the calcium salt is carbonated.

65. The composition of claim 62, wherein the calcium salt comprises hydroxyapatite.

66. A composition according to claim 56, wherein the additive comprises from about 1% to 35% by weight of the composition, more preferably from 10% to 30% by weight, most preferably from 15% to 25% by weight.

67. The composition of claim 56, wherein the composite material has about 12 cm³A/10 min to about 15cm³Melt volume flow rate of 10 min.

68. A composition according to any one of claims 1, 19, 36 and 56, wherein further additives may be added to the composition for radiolucent tracking, wherein the further additives may comprise additives selected from barium sulfate, barium carbonate sulfate and barium fluoride sulfate, and may comprise from 1% to 10% by weight, more preferably from 3% to 5% by weight of the total composition.

69. The composition of any one of claims 1, 19, 36, and 56, wherein the polymer matrix and the additive comprise a powder prior to processing.

70. The composition of claim 69, wherein the powders are physically blended and dried to a moisture content of no more than about 500 ppm prior to melt processing.

71. The composition of claim 70, wherein the dry powder blend is compression molded.

72. The composition of claim 70, wherein the dry powder blend is added to a hopper and then extruded into an extruded material by using a co-rotating twin screw extruder.

73. A composition according to claim 72, wherein the extruded material is extruded into a semi-finished profile having a diameter of from about 5 mm to about 100 mm.

74. The composition of claim 72, wherein the extruded material is pelletized into pellets after extrusion.

75. The composition of claim 74, wherein the pellets are injection molded into an implant design.

76. The composition of claim 74, wherein the pellets are injection molded at a tool temperature of no more than about 420 ℃.

77. The composition of claim 74, wherein the pellets are injection molded at a mold temperature of no more than about 220 ℃.

78. The composition of claim 74, wherein the pellets are extruded into rods through a single screw extruder.

79. The composition of claim 78, wherein the rod has a diameter of about 5 mm to about 100 mm.

80. The composition of claim 78, wherein the rod is machined into an implant design.

81. The composition of any one of claims 1, 19, 36, and 56, wherein the composite material is processed into a composite filament for use in additive manufacturing techniques.

82. The composition of claim 81, wherein the additive manufacturing technique comprises fuse manufacturing.

83. The composition of claim 82, wherein the fuse fabrication can be used to create a porous structure.

84. The composition of claim 81, wherein the composite has improved melt processability.

85. The composition of claim 81, wherein the additive species acts as a heat storage body for melt processing.

86. The composition of claim 85, wherein the thermal storage volume enables more uniform cooling of printed material and promotes adequate melting of the polymer matrix material through increased soak time as compared to unfilled polymer material from processing.

87. The composition of claim.

88. The composition of any one of claims 1, 19, 36, and 56, wherein the composite is beneficial for preventing bacterial growth, biofilm formation, and fibrous tissue encapsulation.

89. The composition of any one of claims 1, 19, 36, and 56, wherein the additive material can be dissolved in an acidic solution to create a porous structure.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to compositions comprising a thermoplastic polymer material as the main component and a second phase consisting of an inorganic additive filler in particulate form, which combinations can subsequently be applied in the manufacture of medical implants or parts thereof.

Background

The use of bioactive materials in orthopedic implant materials is known. The incorporation of bioactive additives into materials can impart a biological response to the materials that are generally biologically inert. Increasing the concentration of these bioactive additives may increase the biological response, but may also decrease the processability and mechanical properties of the material.

A variety of materials have been described for use in the preparation of medical implants having the mechanical and biological properties necessary to achieve effective treatment. For example, metal-based materials (such as titanium) have been used in orthopedic implant applications due to their ability to induce rapid bone growth and their mechanical robustness.

Due to the advantageous properties of polymer-based implants, polymer-based medical implants have attracted increasing attention as compared to the commonly selected metallic implants. For example, implantation of polymer-based instruments is beneficial for adjacent bony structures because the common problems of stress shielding associated with increased stiffness of metal implants are alleviated. Furthermore, polymer-based implants are transparent to X-rays when compared to radiopaque metallic materials, allowing for more thorough examination after placement of the implant.

PAEK-based implants, in particular Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), have frequently been used in orthopaedic medical applications, in particular in the form of implants inserted adjacent to bone structures. Despite the mechanical properties of PAEK materials, as well as their chemical resistance and biological stability (defined as the ability to be not broken down or degraded in vivo), PAEK materials are known to be unable to elicit a positive biological response (such as bone growth), a common biological response that begins to grow fibrous tissue on the material, resulting in the implant becoming submerged.

Compounding PAEK materials with bioactive additives to make composite materials (defined as adding auxiliary materials to polymeric materials) has recently become active in order to impart a degree of bioactivity. When added to biostable PAEK materials, these bioactive additives are capable of eliciting a positive biological response, such as bone growth, after implantation. As the concentration of these additives in the PAEK material increases, the biological activity also increases. In the field of orthopedic implants, these additives are typically selected to have a composition that mimics the composition of natural bone tissue, thereby promoting a natural response after implantation.

However, after the addition of these auxiliary materials, the processability and hence the mechanical properties of the PAEK material change. For example, the addition of the auxiliary material reduces the flowability of the blend and thus increases the shear force required to achieve adequate mixing of the auxiliary material throughout the polymeric material. This results in agglomeration of the auxiliary material within the matrix of the polymeric material. These agglomerations not only further increase the processing difficulty of the composite, but they also reduce the overall mechanical properties of the composite. For example, a common method in the processing of such composites is twin screw extrusion, wherein co-rotating screws are used to mix the molten polymeric material with the auxiliary additives in an attempt to uniformly distribute the additives throughout the polymeric matrix. As the concentration of the additive increases, interfacial reactions between the polymer matrix and the surface of the additive inhibit the functioning of the extruder.

For example, WO2015/092398 teaches that polymeric materials, which are preferably polyetheretherketone, and apatites, such as hydroxyapatite containing, are used as dental implants. However, it does not teach the use of such materials to increase flowability, or the critical particle size range of the additive for improving flowability.

There remains a need for composite materials that can achieve flow characteristics that match or exceed those of virgin polymer materials, and thereby provide superior processing advantages, resulting in improved performance. These properties are crucial in commercial heat treatments such as compounding, extrusion, molding and additive manufacturing of medical device bars, semi-finished shapes (stock flaps) and/or final medical device implants for orthopedic, spinal and dental applications, which are susceptible to brittle failure due to reinforcement by calcium phosphate based additives at increasingly higher concentrations. These additives and blends of additives in varying proportions also exhibit properties that may be superior to known prior art and starting virgin polymer matrices.

Disclosure of Invention

The disclosed invention aims to solve the problems associated with the manufacturing of polymeric materials blended with inorganic additives and the resulting difficulties in poor physical properties and their processability, which are often encountered when using conventional processing methods.

It is another object of the disclosed invention to utilize a combination of ceramic inorganic additives to address the poor processability and poor mechanical properties of polymeric materials blended with inorganic additives in the formation of composite materials.

A composition of osteoconductive composite having improved mechanical properties and processability, wherein the bioactive additive within the composite is in the form of particles having a geometric shape with an average diameter of about 0.5 μm to about 5 μm, and wherein the polymeric material matrix prior to processing comprises a powder having an average diameter of about 500 μm to about 2500 μm.

Preferably, the polymer powder and additive particles are physically blended prior to melt processing. It is also preferred that the physically blended powders and granules are dried prior to processing.

The compositions are useful, for example, in forming shaped articles and orthopedic implants where enhanced bioactivity, ductility, and strength are desired. The compositions disclosed herein also contribute to the processability of such composites.

Thus, as can be appreciated from such teachings, the disclosed invention enables novel compositions that can improve processability (manifested as flowability of the composite) as well as mechanical and biological properties of the composite.

Compositions having novel properties in terms of strength, ductility and flowability for processing are described. Such processing may be performed to form, for example, but not limited to, orthopedic medical devices such as, but not limited to, synthetic bone prostheses, spinal cages, suture anchors, hip implants, knee implants, and the like.

Drawings

Fig. 1 depicts the SEM of samples of Fluorinated Hydroxyapatite (FHA), β -tricalcium phosphate (β -TCP), and Biphasic Calcium Phosphate (BCP) powder prior to treatment, and their mean particle size frequency distribution plots.

Fig. 2 depicts the effect of containing a composition disclosed herein on the melt volume flow rate (MVR) of a composite material disclosed herein.

Fig. 3 depicts the effect of containing a composition disclosed herein on the elongation at break (ductility) of a composite material disclosed herein.

Fig. 4 depicts the effect of containing a composition disclosed herein on the tensile strength of a composite disclosed herein.

Fig. 5 depicts the effect of containing a composition disclosed herein on the flexural strength of a composite material disclosed herein.

Fig. 6 depicts the effect of containing a composition disclosed herein on notched impact strength of a composite material disclosed herein.

Fig. 7 depicts the effect of containing a composition disclosed herein on the tensile modulus of a composite material disclosed herein.

Fig. 8 depicts the effect of containing a composition disclosed herein on the flexural modulus of a composite material disclosed herein.

Fig. 9A depicts a curved bar made by the fuse manufacturing process using PEEK composite filaments containing 20% BCP having comparable flexural strength to an injection molded PEEK composite specimen containing the same composition.

Fig. 9B depicts a 10% improvement in flexural modulus for a flexural bar made by the fuse manufacturing process using PEEK composite filaments with 20% BCP compared to an injection molded PEEK composite specimen containing the same composition.

Fig. 10A depicts a tensile bar made by the fuse fabrication process using PEEK composite filaments containing 20% BCP having tensile strength comparable to an injection molded PEEK composite specimen containing the same composition.

Fig. 10B depicts the tensile modulus of a curved bar made by the fuse manufacturing process using PEEK composite filaments containing 20% BCP to within 15% of an injection molded PEEK composite specimen containing the same composition.

Fig. 11 depicts a 6% increase in elastic modulus under compression testing when compared to machined instruments for spinal interbody fusion cages made by fuse fabrication using PEEK composite filaments with 20% BCP.

Fig. 12A depicts the pore size of the sample.

FIG. 12B depicts that "mixed pores" comprise a combination of "small" and "large" pores, where the pore size increases moving vertically from the build surface. Similar to injection molded PEEK composite surfaces, cells retain their viability on the surface of the 3D printed PEEK composite. The 3D printed PEEK composite surface provides a larger surface area for cell growth.

Detailed Description

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention disclosed herein, and not as a limitation on the potential embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, reference will be made to the specific embodiments with specific language used to describe the same. Thus, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention disclosed herein is not to be limited to the preferred embodiments described herein or to further modifications of the disclosed invention, wherein such further modifications and/or applications are those that would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention disclosed herein pertains and the relevant art of research.

The present invention relates to polymer composite compositions and their enhanced mechanical, biological and processing properties. In certain embodiments of the invention, the composition comprises a homogeneous mixture of a biocompatible polymeric material and a bioactive additive, wherein the bioactive additive is capable of improving the flowability of the composite material. In a further preferred embodiment, the additive is embedded or otherwise dispersed in the polymer matrix by heat treatment.

Biocompatible polymers (e.g., high viscosity, high strength polymers) may be obtained from synthetic or natural sources. The biocompatible polymer may be selected so that it functions to increase the robustness of the composite material and, for example, to improve load bearing capability. In addition, the biocompatible polymer may comprise a bioabsorbable or a bioabsorbable polymer. Examples of preferred non-bioabsorbable polymers include, but are not limited to, polyaryletherketones, such as polyetherketoneketone, polyetherketone, and polyetheretherketone.

In one aspect of the invention, a composition is provided that is a composite material comprising a uniform dispersion of a bioactive additive in a biocompatible polymer matrix, such as, but not limited to VESTAKEEP AR1176 available from Evonik Industries. The components are thoroughly mixed together so that the additive is uniformly dispersed throughout the polymer matrix with a minimum amount of additive agglomeration. The average particle size of the bioactive additive is advantageously not less than about 0.5 μm and not more than about 5 μm. Preferably, the additive size is no greater than about 2.5 μm. Further, preferred sizes include an average particle size of no greater than about 1.0 μm and most advantageously no greater than about 0.75 μm. Table 1 describes the particle size distribution of the additives. The additive size and molecular composition of fig. 1 may advantageously promote dispersion between the two phases and interfacial reactions in order to improve mechanical, biological and processing properties (i.e., flowability). The compositions may be advantageously used to form shaped articles useful in orthopedic applications such as, but not limited to, synthetic bone grafts, spinal cages, and suture anchors. For example, the enhanced flowability of the compositions disclosed herein can be advantageously used to extrude a semi-finished profile to facilitate subsequent machining of load-bearing articles, such as intervertebral cages, bone screws (such as interface screws and suture anchors), fixation plates (such as radius flaps), and various other orthopedic implant articles.

TABLE 1

Additive agent	D10	D50	D90
				Hydroxyapatite	0.42μm	0.83μm	1.3μm
Biphasic calcium phosphate	0.35μm	0.68μm	1.04μm
				Fluorapatite	0.38μm	0.76μm	1.21μm
Beta-tricalcium phosphate	0.37μm	0.69μm	1.05μm

Other forms of the invention disclosed herein require optimization of injection molding parameters to obtain shaped articles. For example, injection molded dog bone samples need to be optimized and the temperature must be increased from the normal operating range of about 380 ± 5 ℃ to about 410 ± 5 ℃ to avoid underfilling (short-shot) of the sample and to produce a complete dog bone sample. In addition, the disclosed invention provides inventive compositions for improving the processability (defined herein as flow) of composite compositions. Referring now to fig. 2, the melt volume flow rate (MVR) is improved upon addition of the additive species as compared to a similar commercially available composite material. For example, referring again to fig. 2, the introduction of biphasic calcium phosphate into a Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material results in a melt volume flow rate (MVR) comparable to that of the virgin Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material without additives. In addition, referring again to fig. 2, the incorporation of β -tricalcium phosphate (β -TCP) alone has a melt volume flow rate (MVR) comparable to that of virgin Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material. Also shown in fig. 2, the addition of unsintered fluorinated hydroxyapatite showed a melt volume flow rate superior to that of virgin Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material. Referring again to fig. 2, blends containing β -tricalcium phosphate (β -TCP) and Fluorinated Hydroxyapatite (FHA) are capable of producing melt volume flow rates comparable to and superior to virgin Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) materials. The increase in melt volume flow rate (MVR) above that of virgin Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) materials may be a result of the particle size and subsequent uniform dispersion effects of fig. 1, which results in beneficial interfacial reactions between the additive and the polymer matrix. In particular, it will be appreciated that in this example, the β -tricalcium phosphate acts as a flow aid, possibly due to ionic or otherwise occurring interactions between the β -tricalcium phosphate and the fluorinated hydroxyapatite within the polymer matrix.

Other embodiments of the disclosed invention may require composites with improved mechanical properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength, and notched impact strength. Referring now to fig. 4, 5 and 6, it is to be understood that the disclosed invention is capable of producing composites having superior tensile strength, flexural strength and notched impact strength over virgin Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and similar commercially available composites.

The present invention also enables the production of composite materials with enhanced tensile and flexural modulus, which can be understood as the stiffness of the material. Referring now to fig. 7, it can be seen that the compositions of the present disclosure comprising, for example, Hydroxyapatite (HA), biphasic calcium phosphate, or Fluorinated Hydroxyapatite (FHA) have improved stiffness values compared to the virgin Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material. Other compositions of the disclosed invention have modulus values comparable to similar commercially available composites, but retain flowability as described above and depicted in fig. 2.

In other forms of the disclosed invention, no less than about 5% by weight and no greater than about 45% by weight of the composition comprises a bioactive additive, with the remainder being a biocompatible polymeric material comprising no less than about 55% by weight and no greater than about 95% by weight. Other preferred compositions contain no less than about 15% by weight and no more than about 30% by weight of the composition containing the bioactive additive.

One embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, but not limited thereto, comprises the bioactive additive comprising a ceramic capable of eliciting a biological response. Preferably, the biological response allows for cell binding at the surface of the composite composition disclosed herein. The disclosed invention can promote the formation of a apatite layer on the surface of a material and the attachment and proliferation of osteoblasts. In one embodiment, it shows the effect of immersing the inventive composition of the present disclosure in a simulated body fluid and the resulting apatite growth-in vitro assessment and simulation of bone growth. In another embodiment, it shows the attachment and proliferation of osteoblasts on the surface of the native polymer material and the effect of the inventive compositions of the present disclosure on the attachment and proliferation of osteoblasts.

The ceramic may be selected from a variety of ceramics, including synthetic ceramics, natural ceramics, bioabsorbable ceramics, or non-bioabsorbable ceramics. Preferably, the ceramic is selected from one type of calcium salt. Preferably, the calcium salt is calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate or calcium carbonate. In a further embodiment of the invention disclosed herein (but not limited thereto), the bioactive additive is selected from a metal species such as magnesium, zinc, strontium, barium or bismuth. Preferably, such metal species are capable of eliciting a positive cellular response while also enhancing the mechanical properties of the composition.

In a further embodiment, the additive may be a ceramic prepared via hydrolysis. For example, calcium phosphate prepared by hydrolysis results in faster absorption of ions (e.g., fluorine). This increased fluorine absorption potential is beneficial to the present invention because doping the calcium salt with an ionic species (e.g., fluorine) is disclosed in the compositions of the present invention as being beneficial to mechanical, biological and processing properties.

In a further embodiment, the additive may be a ceramic that is preferably carbonated. For example, carbonated hydroxyapatite may be formed by replacing hydroxyl ions in hydroxyapatite with carbonate ions resulting in the production of carbonated apatite.

Furthermore, it is shown in the disclosed invention that carbonated hydroxyapatite in which about 1 mol% to about 6 mol% of the hydroxyl groups are replaced with carbonate groups can result in improved biological and processing properties.

In further embodiments, the additive may contain a dopant species. Preferably, the dopant species comprises from no less than about 0.5 mol% to no more than about 4 mol% of the additive. Furthermore, the dopant species is preferably fluorine. Suitably, such fluorine may contribute to the interfacial bonding between the bioactive additive and the polymer matrix, thus enhancing mechanical properties such as notched impact strength.

The compositions of the invention disclosed herein have a wide range of applications. For example, the composition can form a composite material that can be load bearing and can be used to form a shaped medical implant article, such as an intervertebral fusion cage. Other embodiments may also find advantageous use with the present invention where the application requires a high strength and/or high ductility composition for orthopedic applications. For example, but not limited to, the compositions may be present as shown in table 2.

TABLE 2

Processing of composite materials such as those disclosed herein can be made by using mixing and blending. For example, to improve the dispersion of the additive throughout the polymeric material, this can be achieved by first physically blending the component powders using a rotary mixer. The physically blended additives and polymer may then be processed by thermal methods, such as using a twin screw extruder. As one example of a potential method of processing by twin screw extrusion, the heating zones may include those listed below, but are not limited to the specific values disclosed in table 3.

TABLE 3

Further embodiments of the invention disclosed herein can encompass the fabrication of the compositions provided herein into net or near net-shape articles for orthopedic implants. The compositions disclosed herein can be easily injection and/or compression molded. Due to the improved flowability of the disclosed invention, injection molding of screw products can be achieved. Furthermore, compression molding and subsequent machining of the load bearing instrument (e.g., spine cage) may also be accomplished.

Thus, as can be appreciated from such teachings, the disclosed invention enables novel compositions that enhance the processability (in terms of the flowability of the composite) as well as the mechanical and biological properties of the composite.

Compositions having novel properties in terms of strength, ductility and flowability for processing are described. Such processing may be performed to form, for example, but not limited to, orthopedic medical devices such as, but not limited to, synthetic bone prostheses, spinal cages, suture anchors, and the like.