Dynamic bioactive bone graft material having an engineered porosity

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a dynamic bioactive bone graft material having an engineered porosity. In one embodiment, a bone graft material is provided having bioactive glass fibers arranged in a porous matrix that is moldable into a desired shape for implantation. The material can be substantially without additives and can include at least one nanofiber. The porous matrix may include a combination of one or more pore sizes including nanopores, macropores, mesopores, and micropores. In another embodiment, a bone graft implant is provided having a matrix comprising a plurality of overlapping and interlocking bioactive glass fibers, and having a distributed porosity based on a range of pores provided in the bioactive glass fibers. The distributed porosity can comprise a combination of macropores, mesopores, and micropores, and the matrix can be formable into a desired shape for implantation into a patient.

1 . A bone graft material comprising:
 bioactive glass fibers arranged in a porous matrix, wherein the bone graft material is substantially without additives.   
     
     
         2 . The bone graft material of  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix further includes particulates. 
     
     
         3 . The bone graft material of  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix comprises at least a nanoporosity. 
     
     
         4 . The bone graft material of  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix comprises at least a microporosity. 
     
     
         5 . The bone graft material of  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix comprises at least a mesoporosity. 
     
     
         6 . The bone graft material of  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix comprises at least a macroporosity. 
     
     
         7 . The bone graft material of  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix includes a combination of at least two porosities selected from the group consisting of nanopores, macropores, mesopores, and micropores. 
     
     
         8 . The bone graft material of  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix includes a combination of at least two porosities selected from the group consisting of nanopores, macropores, mesopores, and micropores. 
     
     
         9 . The bone graft material of  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix includes a combination of at least three porosities selected from the group consisting of nanopores, macropores, mesopores, and micropores. 
     
     
         10 . The bone graft material of  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix includes a combination of nanopores, macropores, mesopores, and micropores. 
     
     
         11 . The bone graft material of  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix is formed into a desired shape for implantation. 
     
     
         12 . The bone graft material of  claim 11 , wherein the porous matrix comprises at least a 95% porosity prior to being formed for implantation. 
     
     
         13 . The bone graft material of  claim 11 , wherein the porous matrix comprises at least an 80% porosity after being formed for implantation. 
     
     
         14 . The bone graft material of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix is dynamic and the fibers of the porous matrix can move with respect to one another. 
     
     
         15 . A bone graft implant comprising:
 a matrix comprising a plurality of overlapping and interlocking bioactive glass fibers, and having a distributed porosity based on a range of pores provided in the bioactive glass fibers;   wherein the distributed porosity comprises a combination of macropores, mesopores, and micropores; and   wherein the matrix is formable into a desired shape for implantation into a patient.   
     
     
         16 . The bone graft implant of  claim 1 , wherein the distributed porosity further comprises nanopores. 
     
     
         17 . The bone graft implant of  claim 1 , wherein the distributed porosity is based on a plurality of particulates distributed throughout the matrix in addition to the glass fibers. 
     
     
         18 . The bone graft implant of  claim 17 , wherein the particulates includes interior lumens with perforations that provide an additional plurality of pores to the distributed porosity. 
     
     
         19 . The bone graft implant of  claim 16  wherein the combination of nanopores, macropores, mesopores, and micropores are distributed based on a gradient across the matrix. 
     
     
         20 . The bone graft implant of  claim 15 , wherein the gradient of porosity is configured to variably affect resorption of portions of the bone graft implant. 
     
     
         21 . The bone graft implant of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix is configured with a porosity of at least 30%. 
     
     
         22 . The bone graft implant of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix is configured with a porosity of at least 95% prior to formation into the desired shape. 
     
     
         23 . The bone graft implant of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix is configured with a porosity of at least 80% after formation into the desired shape. 
     
     
         24 . A bone graft implant comprising a flexible matrix of bioactive glass fibers, wherein the matrix is dynamic and allows movement of the fibers with respect to one another, and wherein the matrix has a structure similar to a natural fibrin clot. 
     
     
         25 . A dynamic bone graft implant comprising a flexible matrix of bioactive glass fibers, the fibers of the flexible matrix being movable with respect to one another when under a physiologic pressure that is being exerted during a natural healing process.