Biodegradable composite material

1. A biologically degradable composite material for bone reconstruction or replacement having an open-porous base structure, characterized in that said composite material is in sterile form and consists of:

at least one organic component (c);

an inorganic component;

and optional additives;

wherein the inorganic component consists of:

(i) a first inorganic component (a);

(ii) a second inorganic component (b); and

(iii) a third inorganic component (d);

wherein said first inorganic component (a) is a granular material and each granule has an intragranular porosity of 30-40% by volume, based on the volume of the granule; the second inorganic component (b) is a granular material and each granule has an intragranular porosity of 60-70% by volume, based on the volume of the granule; and the densities of the first inorganic component (a) and the second inorganic component (b) are different; and

wherein the first inorganic component (a) is present in an amount of 2-20% by weight, based on the composite material; the second inorganic component (b) is present in an amount of 60-78% by weight, based on the composite material; the third inorganic component (d) is present in an amount of 0.1-28% by weight, based on the composite material; and the organic component (c) is present in an amount of 10-20% by weight, based on the composite material, with the proviso that the total amount of the components contained in the composite material is not more than 100% by weight and

wherein the first inorganic component (a), the second inorganic component (b), and the third inorganic component (d) are in each case a granular material composed of pure-phase beta-tricalcium phosphate having from 0 to 15% by weight of a sodium magnesium silicate glass additive, based on the beta-tricalcium phosphate, or a granular material composed of calcium alkali orthophosphate glass ceramics having from 1 to 15% by weight of a sodium magnesium silicate glass additive based on the calcium alkali orthophosphate glass ceramics; and

wherein the at least one organic component (c) is collagen; and

wherein the composite material has a density of from 0.1 to 2 g/cm 3 or from 0.2 to 0.4 g/cm 3 .

2. The biologically degradable composite material of claim 1 , wherein the first inorganic component (a) has a bulk density of approximately 0.8-1.5 g/cm 3 and the second inorganic component (b) has a bulk density of approximately 0.5-0.9 g/cm 3 , with the proviso that the bulk density of the second inorganic component (b) is different than that of the first inorganic component (a) and the difference in density is at least 0.1 g/cm 3 , and wherein the bulk density of the second inorganic component (b) is less than that of the first inorganic component (a).

3. The biologically degradable composite material of claim 1 , wherein the first inorganic component (a); or the second inorganic component (b); or the third inorganic component (d); or the first inorganic component (a), and the second inorganic component (b) or the third inorganic component (d); or the first inorganic component (a), the second inorganic component (b) and the third inorganic component (d) contain(s) micropores, mesopores, macropores, or a combination thereof, wherein the micropores, mesopores or macropores interconnect.

4. The biologically degradable composite material of claim 3 , wherein the micropores form an interconnecting network into which discrete mesopores and macropores have been introduced in homogeneous distribution.

5. The biologically degradable composite material of claim 1 , wherein the first inorganic component (a), the second inorganic component (b), and the third inorganic component (d) are in each case a granular material containing biologically active, polygonal, rounded particles which consist of pure-phase beta-tricalcium phosphate having from 0 to 15% by weight of a sodium magnesium silicate glass additive, based on the beta-tricalcium phosphate; or calcium alkali orthophosphate glass ceramics having from 1 to 15% by weight of a sodium magnesium silicate glass additive based on the calcium alkali orthophosphate glass ceramics.

6. The biologically degradable composite material of claim 1 , wherein the first inorganic component (a) is a granular material having particles of a size of 1000-2000 μm; the second inorganic component (b) is a granular material having particles of a size of 150-500 μm; and the third inorganic component (d) is a granular material having particles of a size of 150-500 μm and a total porosity of approximately 50-60% by volume, based on the porosity of the first inorganic component (a) or the second inorganic component (b);

wherein the first inorganic component (a), the second inorganic component (b), and the third inorganic component (d) are in each case a granular material comprising primary particles, wherein said primary particles have a d50 value of at least 10 μm.

7. The biologically degradable composite material of claim 1 , wherein the organic component (c) encapsulates the first inorganic component (a), the second inorganic component (b) and the third inorganic component (d); or is contained in and plugs the pores of the first inorganic component (a), the second inorganic component (b), and the third inorganic component (d).

8. The biologically degradable composite material of claim 1 , wherein the organic component (c) encapsulates the first inorganic component (a), the second inorganic component (b) and the third inorganic component (d); and is contained in and plugs the pores of the first inorganic component (a), the second inorganic component (b), and the third inorganic component (d).

9. The biologically degradable composite material of claim 1 , wherein the organic component (c) and the first inorganic component (a) and second inorganic component (b) are cross-linked.

10. The biologically degradable composite material of claim 1 , wherein the additives consist of,

(i) an aqueous solution of a hydrogel-forming substance, the hydrogel-forming substance being selected from modified cellulose, starch, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, dextran, hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, polyethylene glycol, or a combination thereof;

(ii) at least one anti-bacterial, wound-healing-promoting, bone-growth-promoting, coagulation-inhibiting substance, or a combination thereof, in pores; on a surface of the composite material; or in pores and on a surface of the composite material; or

(iii) a combination of (i) and (ii).

11. The biologically degradable composite material of claim 1 , wherein the composite material has a specific surface area of from 0.1 to 2 m 2 /g or from 0.2 to 0.4 m 2 /g.

12. The biologically degradable composite material of claim 1 , wherein the composite material has a ratio between density and specific surface area of from 0.1 to 3; from 0.5 to 0.7; or from 1.5 to 2.0.

13. The biologically degradable composite material of claim 1 , wherein, according to combustion analysis of the composite material, the composite material has a ratio between density and volume shrinkage of from 0.1 to 1.0; from 0.2 to 0.3; or from 0.5 to 0.7.

14. A method for preparing a composite material of claim 1 , comprising:

(i) adding the at least one organic component (c) to a water-containing solution to form a suspension;

(ii) adding the first inorganic component (a), the second inorganic component (b), the third inorganic component (d), and a cross-linking agent to the suspension of (i);

(iii) mixing the components of (ii) to form a solution;

(iv) foaming the solution of (iii) by the introduction of gas or by mechanical manipulation;

(v) transferring the foamed solution of (iv) to a mould and then drying by lyophilization to form the composite material; and

(vi) subjecting the composite material to a heat treatment of 80 to 120° C. for 0.25 to 48 hours; wherein

the composite material is shaped before or after lyophilization or heat treatment.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the cross-linking agent is an organic acid, or an aqueous or alcoholic solution of an organic acid.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first inorganic component (a); or the second inorganic component (b); or the third inorganic component (d); the first inorganic component (a), and the second inorganic component (b) or the third inorganic component (d); or the first inorganic component (a); the second inorganic component (b) and the third inorganic component (d) are in each case a granular material containing biologically active, polygonal, rounded particles which consist of pure-phase beta-tricalcium phosphate having from 0 to 15% by weight of a sodium magnesium silicate glass additive, based on the beta-tricalcium phosphate; or calcium alkali orthophosphate glass ceramics having from 1 to 15% by weight of a sodium magnesium silicate glass additive based on the calcium alkali orthophosphate glass ceramics.