Implantable polymer for bone and vascular lesions

Abstract

A solidifying prepolymeric implant composition comprising a biocompatible prepolymer and an optional filler. One such implant composition is a polyurethane implant composition comprising an isocyanate, such as hydroxymethylenediisocyanate (HMDI) and an alcohol, such as polycaprolactonediol (PCL diol). The compositions of the invention are useful for improving bone structure in patients by applying the solidifying implant composition to bone, reinforcing bone structure, improving load bearing capacity and/or aiding healing of microfractures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solidifying prepolymeric implant composition, comprising a biocompatible prepolymer, an optional filler. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  having a viscosity sufficiently low for injection through a 16-gauge needle. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  which is a solidifying polyurethane implant composition, comprising an isocyanate group and an alcohol in suitable quantities to initiate a polyaddition reaction. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition solidifies upon polymerization, wherein said polymerization is via radical polymerization, addition polymerization, through the use of enzymes, photoinitiation, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition solidifies upon crosslinking, wherein said crosslinking is via radical reagents or via a combination of reactive functional groups, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein said composition solidities through both polymerization and crosslinking. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least 50 percent of said composition will biodegrade or bioresorb within 12 weeks. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said biocompatible prepolymer comprises multifunctional monomeric units. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises a crosslinking agent. 
     
     
         10 . The solidifying implant composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is in a form chosen from the group consisting of an injectable fluid, a malleable pasts, a hydrogel, and an aerosol gel. 
     
     
         11 . The solidifying implant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises calcium phosphates, calcium sulphates, calcium carbonates, hydroxyapatite, silicates, bioactive glasses or porous silicon or silicates. 
     
     
         12 . The solidifying implant composition of  claim 1 , wherein composition further comprises at least one solvent chosen from the group consisting of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), acetone, 2-butanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, dimethylformamide, caproactam, oleic acid, 1 propanol, 2-propanol, propyl acetate, propylene glycol, glycerol, any solvent analogous or homologous to dimethyl sulfoxide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The solidifying implant composition of  claim 1 , further including a radiopaque metal particle chosen from the group consisting of Tantalum, Platinum, Barium, Titanium, Silver, Gold, Palladium, Iridium, Osmium, Copper, Niobium, Molybdenum, Strontium, Gallium, Nickel-Titanium, Nickel-Manganese-Gallium, Platinum-iridium, Platinum-Osmium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The solidifying implant composition of  claim 1 , further including a catalyst chosen from the group consisting of Platinum, Palladium, peroxide, metal salts, Zinc, redox couples, enzymes, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The solidifying implant composition of  claim 1 , further including suspended particles of biologically active material chosen from the group consisting of antibiotics, therapeutic agents that stimulate bone healing, pain relief therapeutics, cancer treatments, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The solidifying implant composition of  claim 1 , further including a material chosen from the group consisting of polymeric fibers, ceramic fibers, metal fibers, polymeric filaments, ceramic filaments, metal filaments, polymeric coils, ceramic coils, metal, coils, polymeric particles, ceramic particles, metal particles, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The solidifying implant composition of  claim 1 , wherein said implant composition when solidified possesses a compressive stiffness of between 0.25 and 20 GPa. 
     
     
         18 . The solidifying implant composition of  claim 1 , wherein said implant composition when solidified possesses tensile strength within the range of 40-100 MPa. 
     
     
         19 . A method of treating a patient, including the step of injecting a liquid solidifying implant composition of the present invention into bone or at a bone detect site, wherein said implant composition solidifies at said bone or bone defect site. 
     
     
         20 . A method of improving bone structure in patients, including the steps of applying a solidifying implant composition of the present invention to bone; reinforcing bone structure; and improving load hearing capacity and aiding healing of microfractures.