University of Nottingham

Ferro Corporation

Steven Melvyn Howdle

Vladimir Popov

Frederick S Mandel

J Don Wang

Process for the preparation of a composition comprising a biofunctional polymer substrate and biofunctional material substrate adapted for use in or in association with the human or animal body, cultivated or uncultivated living matter, wherein the biofunctional material substrate is substantially insoluble in the polymer substrate and/or a supercritical fluid, wherein the process comprises contacting a mixture of the substrates or their precursors with a supercritical fluid under supercritical conditions and conditions of reduced viscosity and physical blending to plasticise and swell the polymer and distribute the biofunctional material substrate throughout the polymer, and releasing the fluid under subcritical conditions, wherein the substrates are adapted to be isolated in form of a solid admixture comprising the biofunctional material substrate in substantially unchanged chemical form, and in substantially unchanged physical form, composition obtained thereby, polymer matrix embodiment thereof and the process for its preparation.

Biofunctional polymers prepared in supercritical fluid

Orthopedic mixtures are prepared by mixing starting materials and a process medium in a reactor to form a supercritical fluid slurry. The starting materials include a source of calcium ions and a polymer matrix for the calcium ions. The process medium preferably is carbon dioxide which is supplied to the reactor in a supercritical state or which is heated and pressurized in the reactor to attain a supercritical state. After mixing for a period of time, the slurry either is left in the reactor or is discharged into a receiving vessel. The process medium is separated from the other materials and removed, leaving behind a finely divided product. The finely divided product can be poured into a mold and cured. Thereafter, the cured product can be used as a bone implant or a bone implant can be carved from the cured product. Alternatively, if an ultraviolet light-curable catalyst and a monomer are included in the mixture, the finely divided product can be used as bone filler and cured in situ. After curing, the mixture produces a dense, strong, porous product that simulates autogenic bone.

Orthopedic mixtures prepared by supercritical fluid processing techniques

Compositions comprising an admixture of a biofunctional polymer substrate and a biofunctional material substrate adapted for use in or in association with the human or animal body, cultivated or uncultivated living matter and methods for making and using thereof are disclosed. The biofunctional material substrate retains bioactivity in the admixture. As disclosed, the compositions may be made by a process which comprises contacting a mixture of the substrates or their precursors with a supercritical fluid under supercritical conditions of reduced viscosity to plasticise and swell the biofunctional polymer substrate and under conditions of physical blending to distribute the biofunctional material substrate throughout the biofunctional polymer substrate, and releasing the supercritical fluid under subcritical conditions. Also disclosed are biofunctional polymer matrices and methods of making and using thereof.

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Nottingham, United Kingdom

Steven Melvyn Howdle