Abstract: An article comprising: a substrate; and over at least part of a surface of said substrate an outer coating of hydroxyapatite and an intermediate bonding layer bonded to said substrate and to said outer coating, wherein a mechanical interlock is present between said substrate and said outer coating.

Abstract: A method for the production of a macroporous ceramic foam, wherein: (a) forming a ceramic slip comprising a substantially homogeneous mixture of a ceramic particulate, an organic binder in a liquid carrier, and optionally one or more surfactants, wherein at least one surfactant is present if the organic binder does not function as a surfactant, and wherein the ceramic slip preferably has a viscosity in the range of from 15 to 200 mPas?1; (b) foaming the ceramic slip; and (c) heating the foamed ceramic slip at a temperature sufficient to substantially burn out the organic binder. The macroporous ceramic foam is suitable for use in biomedical applications such as synthetic bones, tissue engineering scaffolds or drug delivery devices.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a composite biomaterial comprising: providing a first substantially solid component comprising one or more of collagen, a glycosaminoglycan, albumin, hyaluronan, chitosan, and synthetic polypeptides comprising a portion of the polypeptide sequence of collagen, and optionally an inorganic material, said component having at least a surface portion that is porous; providing a fluid composition comprising one or more of collagen, a glycosaminoglycan, albumin, hyaluronan, chitosan, and synthetic polypeptides comprising a portion of the polypeptide sequence of collagen, and a liquid carrier, and optionally an inorganic material; contacting said fluid composition with said porous surface portion of said first component; cooling said fluid composition to a temperature at which the liquid carrier transforms into a plurality of solid crystals or particles; removing at least some of the plurality of solid crystals or particles by sublimation and/or evaporation.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a composite biomaterial comprising an inorganic material and an organic material, the process comprising: (a) providing a first slurry composition comprising a liquid carrier, an inorganic material and an organic material; (b) providing a mould for the slurry; (c) depositing the slurry in the mould; (d) cooling the slurry deposited in the mould to a temperature at which the liquid carrier transforms into a plurality of solid crystals or particles; (e) removing at least some of the plurality of solid crystals or particles by sublimation and/or evaporation to leave a porous composite material comprising an inorganic material and an organic material; and (f) removing the material from the mould.

Abstract: An article comprising: a substrate; and over at least part of a surface of said substrate an outer coating of hydroxyapatite and an intermediate bonding layer bonded to said substrate and to said outer coating, wherein a mechanical interlock is present between said substrate and said outer coating.

Abstract: A process for making composite products from waste material comprises the steps of a) obtaining fibrous material produced by the thermal treatment of waste materials with pressurized steam; b) mixing the fibrous material with a binding material; c) forming the resulting mixture into a shape; d) pressing the shaped mixture under pressure; and e) hardening the mixture; wherein the process also comprises the steps of the separating out the fibrous material and deodorizing the fibrous material. The waste material may be domestic bin liner waste.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a composite biomaterial comprising: providing a first substantially solid component comprising one or more of collagen, a glycosaminoglycan, albumin, hyaluronan, chitosan, and synthetic polypeptides comprising a portion of the polypeptide sequence of collagen, and optionally an inorganic material, said component having at least a surface portion that is porous; providing a fluid composition comprising one or more of collagen, a glycosaminoglycan, albumin, hyaluronan, chitosan, and synthetic polypeptides comprising a portion of the polypeptide sequence of collagen, and a liquid carrier, and optionally an inorganic material; contacting said fluid composition with said porous surface portion of said first component; cooling said fluid composition to a temperature at which the liquid carrier transforms into a plurality of solid crystals or particles; removing at least some of the plurality of solid crystals or particles by sublimation and/or evaporation.

Abstract: A process for the production of a composite material comprising collagen, brushite and one or more glycosaminoglycans, said process comprising the steps of providing an acidic aqueous solution comprising collagen, a calcium source and a phosphorous source and one or more glycosaminoglycans, and precipitating the collagen, the brushite and the one or more glycosaminoglycans together from the aqueous solution to form a triple co-precipitate.

Abstract: A process for making composite products such as doors comprises the steps of: i) forming a mass of plant fibres; ii) coating the mass of plant fibres with at least one resin and at least one catalyst without agitating the mass of plant fibres; iii) compacting the coated mass of plant fibres; and iv) curing the compacted mass of plant fibres; wherein the process also comprises the step of drying the plant fibres either before and/or after step ii).

Abstract: A process for making composite products from waste material comprises the steps of a) obtaining fibrous material produced by the thermal treatment of waste materials with pressurised steam; b) mixing the fibrous material with a binding material; c) forming the resulting mixture into a shape; d) pressing the shaped mixture under pressure; and e) hardening the mixture; wherein the process also comprises the steps of the separating out the fibrous material and deodorising the fibrous material. The waste material may be domestic bin liner waste.

Abstract: A method for the production of a macroporous ceramic foam, wherein: (a) forming a ceramic slip comprising a substantially homogeneous mixture of a ceramic particulate, an organic binder in a liquid carrier, and optionally one or more surfactants, wherein at least one surfactant is present if the organic binder does not function as a surfactant, and wherein the ceramic slip preferably has a viscosity in the range of from 15 to 200 mPas?1; (b) foaming the ceramic slip; and (c) heating the foamed ceramic slip at a temperature sufficient to substantially burn out the organic binder. The macroporous ceramic foam is suitable for use in biomedical applications such as synthetic bones, tissue engineering scaffolds or drug delivery devices.

Abstract: Surgical osteosynthesis composite material which has three components: biodegradable polymer reinforcement, bioceramic or bioglass filler reinforcement and biodegradable polymer matrix. This invention relates to biodegradable materials used for bone fracture fixation devices and methods of their manufacture. Unlike other known materials used prior to this application, the composites of this invention have two different reinforcing phases and one matrix phase. One reinforcing element is referred as the polymeric reinforcing element and the other as the ceramic reinforcing element.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a composite biomaterial comprising an inorganic material and an organic material, the process comprising: (a) providing a first slurry composition comprising a liquid carrier, an inorganic material and an organic material; (b) providing a mould for the slurry; (c) depositing the slurry in the mould; (d) cooling the slurry deposited in the mould to a temperature at which the liquid carrier transforms into a plurality of solid crystals or particles; (e) removing at least some of the plurality of solid crystals or particles by sublimation and/or evaporation to leave a porous composite material comprising an inorganic material and an organic material; and (f) removing the material from the mould.

Abstract: A process for the production of a composite material comprising collagen, brushite and one or more glycosaminoglycans, said process comprising the steps of providing an acidic aqueous solution comprising collagen, a calcium source and a phosphorous source and one or more glycosaminoglycans, and precipitating the collagen, the brushite and the one or more glycosaminoglycans together from the aqueous solution to form a triple co-precipitate.

Abstract: H3C—(CH2)a—(CH(OH)CH2)b—(CH═CHCH2)c—(CH═CH(CH2)7)d—  (A)

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a single phase magnesium- and carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite composition, which process comprises the steps of (i) preparing an aqueous solution containing CO32− and PO43− ions in the substantial absence of cations other than H+ ions; (ii) mixing the solution from step (i) with an aqueous calcium- and magnesium-containing solution or suspension; and (iii) collecting and drying the precipitate formed in step (ii); the ratio of (Ca+Mg/P) in the calcium- and magnesium-containing solution or suspension and the phosphorus-containing solution, when mixed together, being maintained at 1.67, or above. The product of the process is novel and comprises up to 0.5% magnesium and up to 1% of carbonate substituted into the hydroxyapatite structure and which does not contain Na+ or NH4+ ions, the ratio of (Ca+Mg/P) being greater than 1.67.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a single phase carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite composition, which process comprises the steps of (i) preparing an aqueous solution containing Co32− and PO43− ions in the substantial absence of cations other than H+ ions: (ii) mixing the solution from step (i) with an aqueous solution or suspension of a calcium compound; and (iii) collecting and drying the precipitate formed in step (ii); the ratio of Ca/P in the calcium-containing solution or suspension and the phosphorus-containing solution, when mixed together, being maintained above 1.67. The product of the process is novel with a Ca/P molar ratio of greater than 1.67 and comprises up to 5% by weight of CO32− ions substituted in the B site or the B and A sites of the hydroxyapatite structure, with at least 50% of the CO32− ions being substituted on the B site. This product does not contain Na+ or NH4+ ions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a synthetic silicon-substituted apatite or hydroxyapatite which comprises 0.1% to 5% by weight of silicon. The silicon-substituted apatite or hydroxyapatite may be used as a synthetic bone material for use in bone substitution, implants, fillers and cements, coatings for metallic implants, and for making hydroxyapatite-polymer composites. The silicon-substituted apatite is prepared by reacting a calcium salt or calcium hydroxide with orthophosphoric acid or a salt of orthophosphoric acid in the presence of a silicon-containing compound, the molar ratio of calcium ions to phosphorous-containing ions being from 1:0.5 to 1:0.7 and the molar ratio of calcium ions to silicon-containing ions being at least 1:0.2, whereby a precipitate of a silicon-substituted apatite is formed. On heating and/or sintering the silicon-substituted apatite at a temperature of from 500° C. to 1400° C.

Abstract: Composites suitable for use as prostheses for attachment to soft tissues, such as cartilage, tendons, skin, tympanic membrane and gingiva, as well as to cancellous or trabecular bone, are based on combination of a polyolefinic binder with certain bioactive glass materials. The composites bond actively with soft tissues and are readily formulated achieve mechanical properties comparable to those of the soft tissue of interest.

Abstract: Composites suitable for use as prostheses for attachment to soft tissues, such as cartilage, tendons, skin, tympanic membrane and gingiva, as well as to cancellous or trabecular bone, are based on combination of a polyolefinic binder with certain bioactive glass materials. The composites bond actively with soft tissues and are readily formulated achieve mechanical properties comparable to those of the soft tissue of interest.