WO2011004255A2 - Compositions for tissue augmentation - Google Patents

Abstract

Methods for making biomaterials for augmentation of hard tissues, kits containing precursors for forming the biomaterials, and the resulting biomaterials are described herein. The biomaterials are formed from at least a first and a second precursor component and a contrast agent. The first precursor component contains at least two nucleophilic groups, and the second precursor component comprises at least dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate. The nucleophilic and electrophilic groups of the first and second precursor components form covalent linkages with each other at physiological temperatures. The precursors are selected based on the desired properties of the biomaterial. In the preferred embodiment, the biomaterials are used to augment at least one vertebra of the spine (vertebroplasty).

Description

COMPOSITIONS FOR TISSUE AUGMENTATION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to biomaterials for tissue augmentation, precursor components and compositions capable of forming the biomaterials and, methods of making and using thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to the in situ formation of biomaterials comprising solid and/or insoluble contrast agents for augmentation of hard tissues.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Synthetic materials have been investigated for implantation in the body to assist in surgical reconstruction and repair. Biomaterials of synthetic polymeric origin have been used for tissue related applications, such as tissue regeneration matrices, tissue adhesives, drug delivery matrices, to prevent the formation of surgical adhesions, as coatings for synthetic implants and as tissue augmentation materials. Depending on the chemical structure of the precursor components and their stoichiometry, the biomaterials have varying physical and chemical properties.

Orthopedic Surgery

Orthopedic surgery has historically been the most significant application for biomaterials. Orthopedics deals the musculoskeletal system and the treatment of diseases and disturbances to its components, particularly bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. The musculoskeletal system produces movement and responds to forces; therefore it is susceptible to injury and stress-related diseases, which can adversely affect mobility.

Further, as part of the aging process, tissue changes its shape and

consistency. In particular, some tissues lose their form; thus augmentation or restoration is desirable. The loss of bone mass and stability, as occurs in osteoporosis, can be particularly devastating to an individual. A number of other diseases also adversely affect bone and joint function, leading to pain, loss of movement, and/or loss of vital function. One such prominent example is osteoarthritis, which is largely a mechanical disruption to the cartilage and underlying bone at the joints. Any material used as a replacement and/or for enforcement of these tissues has to have mechanical properties equivalent to the tissue it is replacing and/or enforcing. Hard tissue augmentation

Although a biomaterial used for augmenting hard tissue can be applied in different ways, a particular preferred way is through minimal invasive surgery. Compression fractures are particularly problematic in osteoporotic women. Minimally invasive surgery is the procedure of choice for treating vertebral compression fractures or osteoporotic vertebrae. This treatment is known as vertebroplasty. Before vertebroplasty was developed, surgeons did not treat compression fractures because intervention in these patients was risky and adequate tools were not available. In response, vertebroplasty, a procedure in which the vertebral body is filled

percutaneously with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)₅ was developed.

PMMA is mainly used as bone cement and is used off-label in vertebroplasty. PMMA is a hard, brittle polymer that is generally tolerated by tissues and generally resistant to degradation. PMMA as used in vertebroplasty is a powder liquid system (PMMA co-polymer/ monomelic methylmethacrylate) mixed in the operating room to form a viscous paste and pulled up into a syringe immediately prior to injection into the vertebra.

Vertebroplasty can be effective for treating compression fractures. It relieves pain in the majority of cases by preventing the micro-movement of the spongy tissue structure inside the vertebra and providing mechanical stabilization of existing microfractures (Mathis J. et al., Am. J. Neuroradiol. 22: 373-381 (2001)). The risk factors and problems in vertebroplasty are mainly associated with the material itself. The highly toxic

methylmethacrylate (MMA) monomer may leach out into the blood stream before it is sufficiently crosslinked, causing blood pressure drop and migration of the bone cement into the veins, or cause hypotension.

Migration of MMA through the blood stream can result in the accumulation of this material in organs, such as the lungs. Although this is a risk common to all uses of PMMA, it is increased in vertebroplasty due to the fact that PMMA is injected under pressure into a closed space inside fractured bone. This increases the risk for leakage. The exothermic polymerization process is a further deficiency of PMMA since it often leads to substantial damage of the surrounding tissue due to the generation of significant amounts of heat. Thus, PMMA is far from the ideal biomaterial for hard tissue augmentation, in general, and for vertebroplasty, in particular.

Handling of MMA and PMMA is also an issue. The final preparation of the PMMA mixture has to be performed in the operating room. The individual components are measured, mixed to form a homogenous mixture, and the mixture is filled into the appropriate device for application, which is typically a syringe for vertebroplasty. This procedure is time-consuming, susceptible to mistakes, and creates potential health hazards for the person preparing the PMMA due to inhalation of the powder and volatile methylmethacrylate during mixing.

Even after successful injection and polymerization, PMMA can cause complications. PMMA is very hard and can cause stress-shielding and/or collapse of the vertebrae adjacent to the treated vertebra which then may fracture as well. (Ferguson S. et.al, Transactions of the 47^th Annual Meeting of the ORS, 0280 (2001)).

Compositions to be used as biomaterials at the site of injection in the human or animal body to augment osteoporotic vertebrae have to meet various criteria. First, the treatment should reduce or completely remove the pain associated with fractured vertebrae so that the patient can leave the bed and increase mobility. Second, the compositions should be radiopaque to facilitate monitoring of the injection of the material in the hard tissue through imaging, such as X-ray fluoroscopy. And third, the mechanical properties of the osteoporotic vertebra must be improved. This is evident when comparing compressive strength and Young's modulus E of a young healthy vertebra (vertebra in its ideal state) to an osteoporotic vertebra. The compressive strength of the spongy inner part of an ideal vertebra can be up to eightfold greater than that of an osteoporotic vertebra. Similarly, the Young's modulus E of the spongy part of an ideal vertebra can be up to a hundredfold greater than the Young's modulus E of an osteoporotic one. It is generally accepted that the mechanical properties of an ideal vertebra can likely not be re-established. However, people suffering from osteoporosis are mainly at an advanced age and do not seek to undertake great physical efforts which require the presence of ideal vertebrae. Thus as long as the patient is free of pain and has regained mobility to a substantial part of his vertebrae, the treatment is deemed successful.

Biomaterials which are made from polymeric hydrophilic systems, such as PEG derivatives, have been described in the prior art, such as in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,626,863; 6,166,130; 6,051,648; 5,874,500; 6,258,351 and in WO 00/44808. These biomaterials are not suitable for use in hard tissue augmentation due to insufficient strength and stiffness and their tendency to swell extensively when exposed to aqueous media, such as physiological fluids. Uncontrollable swelling makes biomaterials unacceptable for application in limited spaces as in vertebrae. As the material expands, it can press against nerves, such as the spinal cord, or protrude uncontrollably from the place of injection.

U. S 7,575,740 discloses biomaterials for hard tissue augmentation made of two precursor components capable of crosslinking in situ and a contrast agent. While the compressive strength of the resulting biomaterial might be sufficient for certain indications, it would be desirable to have a biomaterial showing a higher compressive strength than the ones disclosed in US 7,575,740, in particular when used in vertebroplasty. One parameter which influences the compressive strength is the amount of solid and/or insoluble contrast agents in the biomaterial. Due to the inherent viscosity of the mixture of the precursor components disclosed in US 7,575,740, only up to 30% of solid and/or insoluble contrast agent can be loaded in the compositions while still securing injectability of the composition into the hard tissue. While higher amounts of contrast agents will facilitate visualization during injection and increase the mechanical properties of the biomaterial i.e. ultimate compressive strength and Young's modulus, the addition of higher amounts of solid and/or insoluble contrast agents (such as barium sulfate or zirconium oxide) to the mixture of the precursor components poses several practical concerns. For example, higher amounts of solid and/or insoluble contrast agent can change the Theological properties of the composition which results in compositions not being injectable through a needle. The presence of higher concentrations of contrast agent may also negatively influence the degradation characteristics of the biomaterial. Therefore, there exists a need for improved biomaterials which can be used for hard tissue augmentation. In particular, there is a need for injectable compositions for forming biomaterials with a stiffness comparable to a healthy human vertebral trabecular bone and a compression strength higher than a healthy human vertebral trabecular bone.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide biomaterials with high ultimate compressive strength formed from injectable compositions.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide injectable compositions for use in vertebroplasty which are radiopaque.

It is a further object to provide an augmentation material for use in vertebroplasty which does not have the disadvantages and risks associated with the use of PMMA.

All these objects are addressed by the features of the independent claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Biomaterials for augmentation of hard tissues, precursors for forming the biomaterials, and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The biomaterials are formed from at least a first and a second precursor component and a solid and/or insoluble contrast agent. The first precursor component contains at least two nucleophilic groups, and the second precursor component comprises dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate.

The nucleophilic and electrophilic groups of the first and second precursor components form covalent linkages with each other at

physiological conditions (e.g., temperature, pH, etc.). The first precursor is selected based on the desired properties of the biomaterial. The first precursor molecules can be monomers, oligomers, and/or polymers. In a preferred embodiment, the first precursor molecules are monomers and/or oligomers. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first precursor components are monomers. Preferably, the first precursor component has a viscosity in the range from about 5 mPa-s to about 1000 mPa s, more preferably from about 20 mPa-s to about 500 rnPa-s and even more preferably from about 50 mPa s to about 100 mPa s at 23⁰C. In one embodiment, the biomaterial is formed by the reaction of a first precursor component comprising tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane and a second precursor component comprising dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate. The biomaterials can further contain additives, such as thixotropic agents, bioactive agents, and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the biomaterial is formed from a composition comprising at least a first and a second precursor component and a solid and /or insoluble contrast agent, wherein the first component comprises at least m nucleophilic groups and the second precursor component comprises dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate. The amount of contrast agent is from about 4 weight % to about 80 weight % of the of the total composition, preferably from about 10 weight % to about 70 weight % of the total composition and even more preferably from about 20 weight % to about 60 weight % of the total composition. Preferred ranges are from about 40 weight % to about 80 weight % of the total composition and most preferred from about 40 weight % to about 60 weight % of the total composition. In another embodiment, the amount of contrast agent is between 4 weight % and 80 weigh % of the total composition, preferably between 10 weight % and.70 weight % of the total composition and even more preferably between 20 weight % and 60 weight % of the total composition. Particularly preferred ranges are between 40 weight % and 80 weight %. In a preferred embodiment, the contrast agent is barium sulfate.

Biomaterials made from such compositions are radiopaque, are stable over time and possess high ultimate compressive strength from about 15 MPa to 120 MPa, preferably from about 70 MPa to about 11 OMPa.

The first precursor component can comprise silane derivatives having at least two thiol groups as nucleophilic groups. In a preferred embodiment, the first precursor component includes tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane. The biomaterial can be formed in situ by applying the compositions of the invention into the hard tissue. The first precursor component can be formulated as a solution (i.e., dissolved in a solvent or co-solvent).

Preferably, the first precursor component is liquid at room temperature and can be used neat (i.e., in the absence of a solvent or co-solvent). The biomaterials are characterized by the fact that they do not swell, i.e. take up of water, extensively when exposed to aqueous media, such like in a physiological environment, unlike prior art biomaterials prepared from synthetic polymers, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG). In one embodiment, the uptake of water by the biomaterial formed by reaction of the first and second precursor components does not exceed 7 % by weight of the biomaterial before it is stored for one year at 37°C in water or in a buffer solution.

The biomaterial for augmenting hard tissue generally contains a polymeric network formed from a composition containing at least a first and a second precursor component and a contrast agent, wherein the first component contains at least m nucleophilic groups and the second component contains at least n conjugated unsaturated groups, wherein m +n is at least five, and wherein the amount of contrast agent is from about 40 weight % to about 80 weight % of the weight of the total composition.

The compositions and /or biomaterials can be utilized in a wide variety of orthopedic, periodontal, and oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures such as the repair of simple and compound fractures and nonunions, external and internal fixations, joint reconstructions such as arthrodesis, general arthroplasty, cup arthroplasty of the hip, femoral and humeral head replacement, femoral head surface replacement and total joint replacement, repairs of the vertebral column including spinal fusion and internal fixation, intermaxillary fixation of fractures, mentoplasty, temporomandibular joint replacement, inlay osteoimplants, implant placement and revision, and combinations thereof. However, the precursor components can also be tailored to produce biomaterials that are suitable for other types of tissue augmentation, hi one embodiment, the biomaterials can be used to augment hard tissue, such as vertebrae of the spine (e.g., vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure IA is a comparison of Young's modulus (MPa) versus time (days) between a PMMA cement (♦) (KyphX HV-R cement, Medtronic) measured at 3% strain and 0.04 mm/s and a biomaterial (■) formed by reacting tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane and dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate in the presence of barium sulfate (BaSO4). Figure IB is a comparison of ultimate compressive strength (MPa) versus time (days) between a PMMA cement (♦) (KyphX HV-R cement, Medtronic) and a biomaterial (■) formed by reacting tetra(3- mercaptopropyl)silane , and dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate in the presence of barium sulfate (BaSO4).

Figure 2 is a graph of the complex viscosity (η) versus time of a composition made by reacting tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane and

dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate in the presence of barium sulfate (BaSO4)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

I. Definitions

"Biomaterial", "pharmaceutical composition", and "composition" as generally used herein refer to a material intended to interface with biological systems to evaluate, treat, augment, and/or replace any tissue, organ and/or function of the body. "Biomaterial" and "composition" refer to the complete material (precursor components plus all additives, bioactive agents, fillers, initiators (e.g., base) and/or solvents, etc.) at and after having reached and passed its gel-point.

"Mixture of precursor components" as generally used herein refers to the precursor components after being mixed and before the mixture has reached its gel-point.

"Solid and/or insoluble contrast agent" as generally used herein refers to radiopaque contrast agents that are in the solid state, preferably in a powder form, at temperatures from about 0°C to about 50°C in air. The agents are insoluble in water, the first precursor component, the second precursor component, the base, the mixtures of precursor components and the composition (i.e. has a solubility of less than 0.01 mg/ml at 20°C).

"Nucleophilic group" or "nucleophile" as used herein generally refers to functional groups that can donate an electron pair to form a covalent bond. Examples include, but are not limited to, thiols, amines, alkoxides, phenoxides, and combinations thereof.

"Conjugation" as generally used herein refers to alternation of carbon-carbon, carbon-heteroatom or heteroatom-heteroatom multiple bonds with single bonds or to the linking of a functional group to a macromolecule, such as a synthetic polymer or a protein. Double bonds spaced by a CH or CH₂ unit are referred to as "homoconjugated double bonds".

"Biocompatibility" or "biocompatible" as generally used herein refers to the ability of a material to perform with an appropriate host response in a specific application. In the broadest sense, this means a lack of adverse effects to the body in a way that would outweigh the benefit of the material and/or treatment to the patient.

"In situ formation" as generally used herein refers to the ability of the compositions which are substantially not crosslinked prior to injection to form covalent linkages with each other under physiological conditions (e.g., temperature, pH, etc.) during injection and at the site of injection in the body of the animal host.

"Oligomer" and "polymer" are used in the conventional sense. An oligomer is a low-molecular weight polymer. Oligomers typically contain between two and ten monomer units. As used herein, polymers typically contain more than 10 monomelic units.

"Cross-linking" as generally used herein means the formation of covalent linkages.

"Functionality" as generally used herein means the number of reactive sites on a molecule. "Reactive sites" refer to nucleophilic and electrophilic groups that are able to react in a self-selective reaction at least but not exclusively under conditions in the human or animal body.

"Multifunctional" as generally used herein means more than one electrophilic and /or nucleophilic functional group per molecule (i.e.

monomer, oligomer or polymer).

"Self selective reaction" as generally used herein means that the first precursor component of the composition reacts much faster with the second precursor component of the composition and vice versa than with other compounds present in the mixture and/or at the site of the reaction. As used herein, the nucleophile preferentially reacts with an electrophile, rather than to other biological compounds, and an electrophile preferentially reacts with a nucleophile rather than with other biological compounds.

"Polymeric network" as generally used herein means the product of a process in which substantially all of the monomers, oligomers, or polymers are bound by intermolecular covalent linkages through their available functional groups to form a macromolecule.

"Physiological conditions" as generally used herein refers to conditions as found in living vertebrates. In particular, physiological conditions refer to the conditions in the human body such as temperature, pH, etc. "Physiological temperature" means in particular a temperature range of between 35°C to 42°C, preferably around 37°C.

"Hard tissue" as generally used herein means bone and/or cartilage. In one embodiment, hard tissue refers to bone and in particular to vertebrae.

"Augmentation" as generally used herein refers to the act of augmenting, making larger and/or making stronger tissue by addition and increase of material. "Augmentation" also refers to the state of being augmented. In one embodiment, "augmentation" means to strengthen tissue. 'Augmentation" also encompasses cementation of artificial joints like artificial hips and knees within the body.

"Crosslink density" as generally used herein refers to the average molecular weight between crosslink points. "Crosslink density" is represented by "M_c".

"Hydrogel" as generally used herein refers a class of polymeric material which swell extensively in an aqueous medium, but which do not dissolve in water.

"Swelling" as generally used herein refers to the increase in volume and/or mass due to the uptake of water by the biomaterial. The terms" water- uptake" and "swelling" are used synonymously throughout the application.

"Compressive strength" as generally used herein refers to the maximum stress a material can sustain under crush loading. Compressive strength is calculated by dividing the maximum load by the original cross- sectional area of a specimen in a compression test.

"Thixotropic fluids" as generally used herein refers to fluids which show a time dependent response to shear. When subjected to a fixed shear rate, they will decrease in viscosity over time. Often this is seen as a large initial viscosity loss, followed by gradual further loss. Once shear is removed, thixotropic fluids recover viscosity. These fluids are usually considered pseudoplastic as well, but only in that they show decreasing viscosity in response to increasing shear rate. Pseudoplastic fluids are commonly considered simply shear-thinning. More specifically, they show decreasing viscosity in response to increasing shear rate. Moreover, they immediately recover their non-sheared viscosity once shear is removed.

"Stiffness" as generally used herein refers to the measure of resistance of plastic to bending. It includes both plastic and elastic behavior. Stiffness of the biomaterials is measured by measurement of Young's modulus E.

"Strain" as generally used herein refers to the change per unit length in a linear dimension of a part or specimen, usually expressed in % strain based on original length of the specimen (ΔL/L₀). True or natural strain is based on instantaneous length, and is equal to hi x lo, where 1 is

instantaneous length and Io is original length of the specimen. Shear strain is the change in angle between two lines originally at right angles.

"Stress" as generally used herein refers to load on specimen divided by the area through which it acts. "Stress" is generally expressed in units of Pa or MPa. As used with most mechanical tests, stress is based on original cross-sectional area without taking into account changes in area due to applied load. This sometimes is called conventional or engineering stress. True stress is equal to the load divided by the instantaneous cross-sectional area through which it acts.

"Modulus of Elasticity/ Young's modulus E" as generally used herein refers to the rate of change of strain as a function of stress and generally contains units of Pa or MPa. Young's Modulus is the slope of the straight line portion of a stress-strain diagram. Tangent modulus of elasticity is the slope of the stress-strain diagram at any point. Depending on the type of loading represented by the stress-strain diagram. Modulus used alone generally refers to tensile modulus of elasticity (or modulus of elasticity in tension). Moduli of elasticity in tension and modulus of elasticity in compressive are approximately equal and are known as Young's modulus.

"Gel point" as generally used herein refers to the point where the viscous modulus and complex modulus cross each other and viscosity increases. The viscous modulus is at the end lower that at the beginning, the complex modulus is at the end higher than at the beginning. Thus the gel point is the stage at which a liquid begins to take on the semisolid

characteristics of a gel.

II. Compositions

A composition, which is crosslinked in situ, for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition or biomaterial for augmenting hard tissue is described herein. In one embodiment, the biomaterial is used to augment hard tissue, such as bone. The composition contains at least a first and a second multifunctional precursor component and a solid and/or insoluble contrast agent. Optionally additives and/or biologically active agents may be added to the precursor components. The precursor components are mixed and crosslinked or polymerized in situ to form the biomaterial. The particular precursor components are selected based on the desired properties of the biomaterial.

A. Precursors

The first precursor component contains at least two nucleophilic groups, and the second precursor component contains dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate. The first precursor components is selected such that the nucleophilic groups and the aery late groups of the second precursor molecules form covalent linkages under physiological conditions.

The first precursor components can be multifunctional monomers, oligomers and/or polymers. In one embodiment, the first precursor components are multifunctional monomers and oligomers. In another embodiment, the first precursor components are multifunctional monomers. Preferably the molecular weight of the first precursor component is from about 100 g/mol to about 900 g/mol, preferably from about 200 g/mol to about 700 g/mol and even more preferably from about 220 g/mol to about 300 g/mol. The viscosity of the first precursor component is from about 5 mPa s to about 1000 mPa-s, more preferably from about 20 mPa s to 500 mPa-s and even more preferably from about 50 mPa-s to about 100 mPa-s at 23°C.

The precursor components can be dissolved in a solvent or co-solvent prior to mixing the precursor components. However, in a preferred embodiment, the first and the second precursor components are liquids at room temperature, and are used neat (i.e., without first solubilizing the precursor components in a solvent or cosolvent).

While the functionality of the precursor components is a factor to consider in designing a biomaterial, it is not the only prerequisite for the polymeric network to form a biomaterial with the desired mechanical properties needed, for in particular vertebroplasty, because the mechanical performance of the biomaterial also depends on the structure of the molecule as a whole. A small and compact molecule will form a polymeric network with greater strength than an extended molecule, although the functionality, molecular weight and reaction partner might be the same for both molecules. For example, a biomaterial formed by crosslinking monomer to monomer or monomer to oligomer is generally more compact than a biomaterial formed by crosslinking polymeric precursor components.

As a general guideline, the ratio of the first and second precursor components is selected such that the majority of the functional groups of both components react with their respective counterparts. The ratio of the number of the electrophilic groups (second precursor component) and the nucleophilic groups (first precursor component) is from about 0.7 to about 1.1, more preferably from about 0.8 to about 1.0.

a. Nucleophilic groups

The nucleophilic groups of the first precursor component are able to react with acrylate groups of the second precursor component. The nucleophiles that are useful are those that are reactive towards acrylate groups via addition reactions, in particular in a self-selective nucleophilic addition reaction under physiological conditions in the human or animal body. Preferred nucleophiles are commonly found in biological systems, for reasons of toxicology, but are not commonly found free in biological systems outside of cells.

The suitability of particular nucleophiles depends upon the biomaterial to be formed and the conditions under which it is formed, as well as the amount of self-selectivity desired. In one embodiment, the

nucleophile is a thiol. However, amines and/or alkoxides may also be effective nucleophiles. Thiols are present in biological systems outside of cells in paired form, as disulfide linkages. When the highest degree of self-selectivity is desired (e.g. when the gelation reaction is conducted in the presence of tissue and chemical modification of that tissue is not desirable), thiols can act as a strong nucleophiles.

There are other situations, however, where the highest level of self- selectivity may not be necessary. In these cases, an amine and/or alkoxide may serve as an adequate nucleophile. With respect to amines, particular attention is paid to the pH, in that the deprotonated amine is a much stronger nucleophile than the protonated amine. Thus, for example, the alpha amine on a typical amino acid (pK as low as 8.8 for asparagine, with an average pK of 9.0 for all 20 common amino acids, except proline) has a much lower pK than the side chain epsilon amine of lysine (pK 10.80). As such, if particular attention is paid to the pK of an amine used as the strong nucleophile, substantial self-selectivity can be obtained. By selection of an amine with a low pK, and then formulation of the final precursor such that the pH is near that pK, one can favor reaction of the electrophile with the amine provided, rather than with other amines present in the system. In cases where no self- selectivity is desired, the pK of the amine used as the nucleophile is less important. However, to obtain reaction rates that are acceptably fast, the pH is adjusted to be the pH of the final precursor solution so that an adequate number of these amines are deprotonated.

The nucleophilic groups may be contained in molecules with great flexibility in overall structure. For example, a difunctional nucleophile can be presented in the form of Nuc-P-Nuc, where P indicates a monomer, oligomer or polymer and Nuc refers to the nucleophile. Likewise, a branched oligomer or polymer, P, can be derivatized with a number of nucleophiles to create P-(Nuc)j., where i is greater than 1. The nucleophile can also be part of the repeating structure, e.g. (P-Nuc)i. Finally, it is not necessary that all of the P and/or the nucleophiles be identical. For example, the precursor component can contain two different nucleophiles, such as amine and thiol. Preferred first precursor components

i. Siloxanes

In one embodiment, the first precursor component is a siloxane derivative containing thiols and/or amines as nucleophilic groups. In one embodiment, the cyclosiloxane derivative has the following formula:

1 2" where n = 3-6, preferably 4; R = alkyl, preferably C^ -Cg-alkyl; and R = alkyl, preferably C2-C3-alkyl; and X = -SH, -NH2 or combinations thereof.

/7. Cyclohexanes

In another embodiment, the first precursor component is a

cyclohexyl- derivative. In one embodiment, the derivative of cyclohexane has the following formula:

1 2"

where n = 6; R = H or alkyl, preferably C\ to C4, R = alkyl, preferably Ci to C4 alkyl; and X = -SH, -NH₂, or combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the derivative of cyclohexane is 1,2,4-Tris (2-mercaptoethyl)-

1 2"

cyclohexane; using the above formula, n=6; R = H; R = C2H4; and X = -

SH. (22).

Hi. Derivatives ofpentaerythritol

In still another embodiment, the first precursor component is a derivative ofpentaerythritol containing thiol and/or amine groups. Examples include, but are not limited to, pentaerythritol tetrakis(2- mercaptoproprionate) (26); pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropyl)ether (27); and pentaerythritol tetrakis(mercapto-poly(ethylene glycol) ether) (28).

iv. Derivatives ofl, 1, l-tris-(hydroxymethyl)propane

In still another embodiment, the first precursor component is a derivative of 1,1,1, tris-(hydroxy-methyl)propane containing nucleophilic groups, such as thiol and/or amine groups. Examples include, but are not limited to, tri(3-mercaptopropy I)TMP (25).

v. Derivatives of 1,1,1 tris-(hydroxy-methyl)propanol

In yet another embodiment, the first precursor component is a derivative of 1,1,1 tris-(hydroxy-methyl)propanol containing nucleophilic groups, such as thiol and/or amine groups. Examples include, but are not limited to, 3-(3-mercapto-propoxy)-2,2-bis-(3-mercapto-propoxymethyl)- propan-1-ol (23) and 2-[2,2-Bis-(2-mercapto-ethyoxymethyl)-butoxy]- ethanethiol (24).

With respect to i-v, in one embodiment, the first precursor component contains at least two alkyl chains with preferably end-standing thiol and/or amine groups. For example, pentaerythritol, 1,1,1 tris-(hydroxy- methyl)propane and 1,1,1 tris-(hydroxy-methyl)propanol can be converted into alkylether or alkylester derivatives containing at least three alkyl-chains with end-standing thiol groups. The length of the alkyl chain and the functionality are determined by the requirement of hydrophobicity, size and intended cross-link density based on the intended use. The length of the alkyl chain also depends on the reaction partner. If the reaction partner is small and compact with a functionality of at least three, the alkyl chains of the pentaerythritol, 1,1,1 tris-(hydroxy-methyl)propane and 1,1,1 tris- (hydroxy-methyl)propanol derivatives can be longer. In one embodiment, the alkyl chain has from 2-10 carbons, preferably from 2-5 carbons,

v/. Silane derivatives

In still another embodiment, the first precursor component is a silane derivative containing nucleophilic groups, such as thiol and/or amine groups. For example, the silane derivative can have the following formula:

Si[(CH₂)_nX]₄ where n is from 2-10, preferably from 2-5 and X is a nucleophilic group as defined above. In one embodiment, n = 3 and X is thiol. Examples include, but are not limited to, tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane (29).

Table 1: Preferred first precursor components

(25)

b. Second precursor component

The use of dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate (30) which has a functionality of five acrylates groups as the second precursor component results in a biomaterial with a high crosslink density and thus mechanical properties such as Young's modulus and ultimate compressive strength suitable for hard tissue augmentation. In addition, the use of dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate (30) as the second precursor component leads to biomaterials that are less susceptible to degradation. This is of paramount importance if the biomaterial contains high amounts of solid and/or insoluble contrast agents as usually high amounts of contrast agents tend to destabilize the crosslinked network formed by the reaction of one or more precursor components.

Although dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate has a high viscosity (from 7000 to 20000 mPa-s at 23°C), when mixed with the first precursor component and/or with the base, the viscosity of the mixture of the precursor components with or without the base is such that higher amounts of contrast agent, e.g., up to 80 weight % of the total composition, are suitable to provide an injectable composition. This is unexpected in view of the fact that higher amounts of solid and/or insoluble contrast agents typically increase the viscosity of the compositions such that they cannot be injected at the site of application. In one embodiment, the first precursor component is a mixture of at least tri-, tetra-, penta-, hexa-acrylates, and/or hepta-acrylates, wherein the penta-acrylate is the major component. In a preferred

embodiment, the mixture of acrylates is purified to isolate the penta-acrylate and the purified penta-acrylate is used as the second precursor component.

The preferred composition contains a first precursor component containing at least tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane (29), and a second precursor component containing at least dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate (30). A preferred composition further comprises a solid and/or insoluble contrast agent which is preferably barium sulfate (BaSO₄).

c. Contrast agent

The composition further contains one or more solid and/or insoluble contrast agents in order to track the performance of the application and to instantaneously detect potential leakage. The detection of leakage, especially in vertebroplasty, is important for the reasons described above. The solid and/or insoluble contrast agent is preferably an inorganic material. In a preferred embodiment, barium sulfate (BaSO-O is used as the radiopaque X- ray contrast agent, preferably in a range from about 4 weight % to about 80 weight % of the total composition, preferably from about 10 weight % to about 70 weight % of the total composition, and even more preferably from about 20 weight % to about 60 weight % of the total composition, hi another embodiment, the amount of contrast agent is between 4 weight % and 80 weigh % of the total composition, preferably between 10 weight % and 70 weight % of the total composition and even more preferably between 20 weight % and 60 weight % of the total composition. Particularly preferred ranges are between 40 weight % and 80 weight %.

When composition with high amounts of solid and/or insoluble contrast agents are desirable, the solid and/or insoluble contrast agent is used in a range of from about 40 weight % to about 80 weight % of the total composition, preferably in a range from about 40% to about 60 weight % of the total composition, hi one embodiment, the BaSθ4 has a specific surface

2

area of greater than or equal to 25 m /g and a particle size (diameter) of less than or equal to lOOμm (CI50). In another preferred embodiment, zirconium oxide (Z1O2) is used as the X-ray contrast agent. Alternatively, strontium containing compounds can be used as contrast agents either alone or as a mixture with other contrast agents, in particular Strontium carbonate. The applicable weight percentages for zirconium oxide and strontium-containing compounds are in the same ranges as for BaSO-J.

Whereas the addition of contrast agents of a particle size of less than or equal to 100 μm average diameter in an amount from about 4 weight % to about 80 weight % of the total composition gives a uniform radiopaque background under X-ray radiation, the addition of a small amount of, e.g., a few, radiopaque particles having an average diameter of about 250 to 600 μm allows for detection of the injection front and the injection behavior within the bulk material in addition to uniform radiopaque background. This is known as dynamic imaging. This can serve as a further tool for the instantaneous detection of leakage. In a preferred embodiment, radiopaque particles with an average diameter of about 250 to 600 μm, preferably 500μm are added to the biomaterial. A preferred particle material is gold or titanium.

Apart from their function as thixotropic and X-ray contrast agents, silica, zirconium oxide, strontium-containing compounds, and/or barium sulfate can also serve as fillers in the composition. The addition of fillers can result in an increase/improvement in the mechanical properties (e.g., ultimate compressive strength and Young's modulus E) of the biomaterial compared to the mechanical properties of the polymeric network.

d. Additives

The composition may further contain at least one thixotropic agent in an amount from about 1 weight % to about 7 weight % of the composition, preferably in an amount from about 1.5 to about 5 weight % and even more preferably from about 2 % to about 4 weight %. The thixotropic agent can be organic (e.g. hydroxypropylcellulose) or inorganic, such as hydrophilic or hydrophobic silica, smectite and hormite clay. In a preferred embodiment, hydrophilic silica is used as the thixotropic agent. e. Bases

The in situ crosslinking of the first and the second precursor component takes place preferably under basic conditions. A variety of bases comply with the requirements of catalyzing the reaction at physiological conditions (e.g., temperature) and being biocompatible. Tertiary alkyl-amine bases are most suitable in terms of gelation time and tolerance for deviation of amount. Suitable bases include, but are not limited to, tributylamine, triethylamine, ethyldiisopropylamine, or N,N-dimethylbutylarriine. The most preferred base for forming a biomaterial for hard tissue augmentation and vertebroplasty is tributylamine.

For a given composition, the gelation time is dependant on the amount and type of base. Thus, the gelation time of the composition can be controlled and adjusted to the need of application by varying the base concentration and the type of base. For example, when diethanolamine and ethanolamine are used, the gelation time decreases to 1 to 5 min under comparable conditions. Piperidin, morpholine, triethanolamine, or N-Boc- ethanolamine result in slow gelation times, but they may be used if they are mixed with bases which lead to faster gelation.

/ Solvents

Although compositions are preferred that do not require the presence of solvents, some compositions may require the addition of small amounts of solvents, e.g. for better mixing, hi that case, solvents and solvent

concentrations are chosen that are not detrimental to the patient.

The first and second precursor components, the base and the contrast agent, and optionally solvents and/or additives, preferably form a single phase system. The weight % of the sum of donor and acceptor molecules, i.e. the mixture of precursor components, is preferably in a range of between 20 to 95 % of the total weight of the composition and even more preferably between 30 and 85 weight%.

III. Biomaterials

The requirements of biomaterials are dependent on the purpose and site of application in the body. The biomaterial augments hard tissue and is particularly suitable for the use in vertebroplasty. For this purpose, the biomaterial must not be susceptible to swelling and must impart to the tissue in need of augmentation an acceptable mechanical stability after application. The characteristics of the biomaterial are mainly dependent on the choice of the precursor components which crosslink to form a polymeric network which is the basis of the biomaterial. Whereas the mechanical stability of the biomaterial is dependent on the crosslink density of the polymeric network, the water uptake by the biomaterial is influenced by an interplay of the crosslink density and the hydrophobicity of the polymeric network. For greater crosslink densities and more hydrophobic polymeric networks, the uptake of water by the biomaterial is decreased. Crosslink density and hydrophobicity of the biomaterial are to a major extent determined by the structure and ratio of the precursor components. Therefore, water-uptake and mechanical performance of the biomaterial can be controlled and influenced by the appropriate choice of the precursor components.

In one embodiment, the uptake of water by the biomaterial should not exceed 7 weight % of the weight of the biomaterial before it is exposed to a storage period of 1 year at 37°C in water or in a buffer solution (measured following the Archimedes's principle buoyancy method using an analytical balance equipped with a density kit, and after storage of the samples according to ISO 10993-13:1995 (E) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) since 24 ± 2h after mixing of the precursor components). In the preferred embodiment, the water uptake is less than 5 weight %. In the most preferred embodiment, the water uptake is less than 3 weight %. Preferably each of the precursor components is hydrophobic and slightly soluble in water.

By measurement of Young's modulus E of polymeric networks, information can be obtained with regard to the stiffness of the polymeric network and as such relative information about the crosslink density of the network. The higher the Young's modulus E of a polymeric network, the higher the crosslink density within the network. Young's modulus E of the polymeric network can be increased by addition of additives, such as fillers. Nevertheless, the base value for Young's modulus E is determined by the chemical structure of precursor components and the ratio of their functional groups. After crosslinking, the structure and the ratio are responsible for a certain crosslink density within the polymeric network. Young's modulus E must achieve a predetermined value to be suitable for augmentation of hard tissue and particularly for the use in vertebroplasty.

The precursor components, presence or absence of solvent, and/or base can be varied in order to vary the gelation time of the precursor components. In one embodiment, the gelation time is from about 20 to about 40 minutes, preferably from about 25 to 35 minutes.

Characteristics of Biomaterials

The ultimate compressive strength (measure of the load bearing capacity) of the biomaterial is in a range from about 7 MPa to about 150 MPa, preferably in a range from about 10 MPa to about 130 MPa and even more preferably from about 15 MPa to about 120 MPa and even more preferably from about 70 MPa to about 110 MPa. AU of the measurements are taken at a compression rate of 0.045 mm/s and at a room temperature (23±2°C), after storage of the samples at 37±1 °C for 10 days. Preferably the ultimate compressive strength of the biomaterial reaches at least 10 MPa within the first 4 hours under dry conditions at 37°C.

Preferably the Young's modulus E of the biomaterial (plus additives) is roughly in the same range as that of healthy human vertebral trabecular bone (291 ± 113 MPa— Kopperdahl and Keaveny, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 120:647-654, 1998).

The precursor components are selected such that they result in a Young's modulus E of the polymeric network of the biomaterial without fillers of at least 100 MPa at 10 days after mixing, preferably at least 200 MPa and even more preferably at least 250 MPa. Young's modulus E of the biomaterial (polymeric network plus fillers) is in the range from about 200 MPa to about 1200 MPa, preferably in the range from about 300 MPa to about 1000 MPa and even more preferably in the range from about 400 to about 800 MPa.

The injected composition forms a composite material inside the vertebra. The composites are made of the biomaterial and the spongy tissue. Even a biomaterial with a relatively low Young's modulus E serves its purpose after injection into the spongy tissue. The compression strength and the Young's modulus E are measured, if not otherwise specified, on specimens stored for 10 days in PBS solution at 37°C. The amount of PBS solution is calculated in order to guarantee at least a 10:1 ratio between the liquid volume and the specimen as recommended by ISO 10993-13. The mechanical test are performed at 23±2 °C based on the ISO 5833:2002(E). The compression rate, if not otherwise specified, is 0,045 mm/s. The compression strength is defined as the maximum compression stress before the break of the sample. The Young's modulus E is defined as the slope of the linear regression fit on the stress-strain graph, between 1 and 2% of strain.

The elongation at break of the biomaterial is preferably in a range from bout 10% to about 50%, more preferably from about 15% to about 40% and even more preferably of from about 20% to about 30% (storage of biomaterial before measurement 10 days 37°C in PBS solution).

The biomaterials are stable over a period as set out in the ISO 10993- 13:1995 (E), i.e. they do not degrade when stored one year at 37°C in PBS within the margin of error of the respective measurement.

III. Methods of forming biomaterials

A. Storage

The first and optionally the second precursor components are preferably stored under exclusion of oxygen and at low temperatures, e.g. around +4°C, to avoid decomposition of the functional groups prior to use. Preferably the content of functional groups of each precursor component is measured immediately prior to use and the ratio of first and second precursor component (and other precursor components), when appropriate) is adjusted according to the predetermined number of the functional groups.

B. Preparation of composition for tissue augmentation

A composition for use as tissue augmentation agent may be prepared by the following general method:

a ) providing at least one first multifunctional precursor component containing at least two nucleophilic groups;

b) providing at least one second multifunctional precursor component containing at least dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate capable of forming covalent linkage with the nucleophilic groups of step a) under physiological conditions;

c) mixing the first precursor component with at least one filler;

d) mixing the second precursor component with at least one filler; e) filling the mixture obtained in step c) in a delivery device, preferably in a syringe;

f) filling the mixture obtained in step d) in a delivery device, preferably in a syringe.

In another embodiment, a composition for use in tissue augmentation may be prepared by the following general method:

i ) providing at least one first multifunctional precursor component containing at least two nucleophilic groups;

ii) providing at least one second multifunctional precursor component containing at least dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate capable of forming covalent linkages with the nucleophilic groups of step a) under physiological conditions;

iii) mixing the first precursor and the second precursor components; iv) adding a base to the mixture of the first and second precursor component and mixing;

v) adding a filler and/or solid and/or insoluble contrast agent to the mixture of the first and second precursor component, mixing and allowing the precursor components to complete crosslinking.

The first and second precursor components and the fillers are sterilized prior to mixing. Preferably the second precursor component is sterilized by sterile filtration and the first precursor component, the contrast agent , the base and any optional additives are sterilized by gamma irradiation. The mixtures obtained in steps e), f) and iii) can be stored over a prolonged time, preferably at low temperatures.

Immediately prior to application, the contents of the delivery devices obtained in step e), f) and iii) are mixed with one another and secondly with a predetermined amount of sterilized base. A predetermined amount of base is filled in a delivery device, preferably another syringe. Tertiary alkyl- amine bases are most suitable in terms of gelation time and tolerance for deviation of amount. Preferably the bases are tributylamine, triethylamine, ethyldiisopropylamine, or N,N-dimethylbutylamine. The most preferred base for forming a biomaterial for hard tissue augmentation and

vertebroplasty is tributylamine.

There are different modes of mixing the components, hi one embodiment, three syringes, one containing the nucleophilic precursor, another containing the electrophilic precursor, and the third containing a base, can be interconnected using a three-way connector device. The contents of the syringes are mixed by being squeezed through a static mixture at the outlet of the three way connector device. The mixed components are injected directly at a site in need of treatment in the body by connecting the static mixer to an injection needle. Alternatively, the mixture is squeezed into another syringe which then is connected to the injection needle.

In a second embodiment, the mixture containing the electrophilic precursor, obtained in step d), is mixed with the base. This is preferably done by connecting the syringe containing the base to the syringe containing the electrophilic precursor through a connector device, which allows for syringe-to-syringe mixing of the respective contents. A static mixer may be part of the connector device. The mixing is complete when homogenous mixing is achieved, which optionally may be made noticeable by adding biocompatible coloring agents to the base and/or the mixture obtained step d). After mixing, one syringe contains a mixture of the base/second precursor/filler and the other syringe is empty. Then, the empty syringe is removed from the connector device and replaced by the syringe containing the nucleophilic precursor. Again, syringe-to-syringe mixing is one way to achieve homogeneous mixing of both contents. Subsequently the syringe containing the mixture is connected to the injection needle and the mixture is injected at the site of need in the body.

Alternatively, the syringe containing the base/second precursor/filler mixture and the syringe containing the first precursor/filler mixture, are interconnected through a two-way connector device comprising a static mixer at its outlet. The two-way connector device can be a double compartment syringe. The contents are mixed by squeezing the contents of the syringes through the static mixer. The static mixture is either directly connected to the injection needle or the mixture is transferred to another syringe, which then is connected to the injection needle.

In a third embodiment, the first and second precursor components, stored in syringes, are injected into a larger plastic container and then stirred with a spatula for about 10 seconds. The base is recovered from a glass ampoule by means of a small syringe, squeezed into the mixture of precursor components, and then homogenized with a spatula for about 1 minute. The solid and/or insoluble contrast agent is then added and stirred with a spatula for about 2 minutes until the mixture appears homogeneous. The material can be finally transferred into a suitable injection device.

C. Injection of the composition

Injectability of the composition is generally defined as the ability of the composition to be injected without phase separation between the fluid mixture of the precursor components and the solid form of the contrast agent.

The viscosity of the composition is an important parameter as it defines the injection pressure to be applied for injection but also as it defines the risk of leakage of the composition. A too high viscosity will impair the injectability of the material and a too low viscosity will increase the risk of leakage of the material to the surrounding tissues. Preferably, the

compositions described herein have a viscosity in the range of about 5 Pa s to 200 Pa s at 23 °C, more preferably in the range from about 20 Pa s to about 150 Pa s at 23 °C.

Ideally, the viscosity of the composition should be constant during injection. However, due to the crosslinking of the precursor components, the viscosity of the composition increases dramatically after reaching the gel point. Nevertheless, before reaching the gel point, the compositions of the present invention have viscosities gradually increasing so that the mixture flows, penetrates and distributes easily and evenly inside the spongy part of the vertebra. Because the viscosity of the composition should be high enough to prevent leakage and low enough to allow injectability, it is necessary to define the injectability range. The injectability range is defined as the time range between the injectability lower and the upper time limit.

The injectability lower time limit is defined as the time from the start of the polymerization reaction (adding of the base) at which a viscosity suitable for the interpenetration of the material into a trabecular bone structure, but at least 1000 times higher then blood viscosity (about 3 mPa.s) to avoid the risk of leakage, is attained.

The injectability upper time limit is defined as the time from the start of the polymerization reaction (adding of the base) at which the maximum load applicable at the plunger of a syringe linked to a needle or to a vertebroplasty injection gun linked to a needle to permit a feasible extrusion (injection) of the enclosed composition is attained, hi the case of a standard polypropylene 10 mL syringe with an inner diameter of 14.5 mm, the maximum load can be set to 140 N, which corresponds to the maximum internal pressure (0,85 MPa) suggested for these syringes. The injectability range of the compositions of the present invention is between 5 to 20 minutes.

When a surgeon detects leakage from the vertebra by X-ray analysis during injection he/she immediately stops pressing the plunger of the syringe, and as a result the mixture stops flowing. Injection will be continued at another location in the vertebra (usually several needles are inserted into one vertebra prior to injection)

D. Crosslinking Reaction between nucleophilic and electrophilic groups

After injection, the mixed precursor components crosslink (thus harden) within the next two to four hours to such an extent that the biomaterial can withstand loads to the extent that the patient can stand up and walk. The viscosity profile of the biomaterial takes these requirements into account in that the viscosity only increases slightly the first five to twenty minutes after mixing of the precursor components (before reaching the gel point) and then increases exponentially after that. The composition reaches its gel point at around twenty to forty minutes, preferably at around twenty to thirty five minutes. This gives the surgeon sufficient time for the operation. The biomaterial reaches its ultimate strength within 10 days, preferably 5 days after mixing.

The crosslinking of the first and second precursor component at the site of application is associated with only moderate exothermicity. The tissue at the site of application is much less harmed by injection of the composition than by injection of PMMA.

Michael-type Reaction

The first and the second precursor components preferably react by a 1,4 addition reaction of a nucleophile on a conjugate unsaturated system. This reaction is referred to as a Michael-type reaction or Michael addition reaction. The reaction mechanism could be purely polar, or proceed through a radical-like intermediate state(s). Lewis acids or bases or appropriately designed hydrogen bonding species can act as catalysts.

Michael-type addition to conjugated unsaturated groups can take place in substantially quantitative yields under physiological conditions (e.g., temperatures), in particular at body temperature but also at lower and higher temperatures. They take place in mild conditions with a wide variety of nucleophiles. The gel formation kinetics and the mechanical and transport properties of the product are tailored to the needs of the application.

Compared to the preparation of PMMA in the operating room, it is evident that preparation and handling of this composition is faster, reproducible, more precise, and avoids health hazards for the people responsible for preparation of the mixture.

IV. Kits for forming in situ Crosslinkable Compositions

A kit containing at least a first and a second precursor component. The kit may also contain one or more devices, such as syringes, for administering the first and second components. The kit may contain a base for polymerizing the precursor component. Optionally, the first and/or the second precursor component(s) contain one or more additives and/or biologically active agents. The precursor components may be placed in the one or more devices prior to administration to a patient. The kit can also contain instructions for preparing the precursor components and/or additives as well as mixing the precursor components and additives to form the biomaterial.

V. Uses for the Compositions

The multifunctional precursor components are selected and tailored to produce biomaterials with the desired properties. The precursor components are capable of in situ crosslinking at physiological temperature, to specific augmentation requirements. In the preferred embodiment, the biomaterials are used to augment hard tissues, such as bone.

The biomaterial can be utilized in a wide variety of orthopedic, periodontal, and oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures such as the repair of simple and compound fractures and non-unions, external and internal fixations, joint reconstructions such as arthrodesis, general arthroplasty, cup arthroplasty of the hip, femoral and humeral head replacement, femoral head surface replacement and total joint replacement, repairs of the vertebral column including spinal fusion and internal fixation, intermaxillary fixation of fractures, mentoplasty, temporomandibular joint replacement, inlay osteoimplants, implant placement and revision, and combinations thereof. However, the precursor components can also be tailored to produce biomaterials that are suitable for other types of tissue augmentation.

A. Hard Tissue Augmentation and Vertebroplasty

In the preferred embodiment, the in situ crosslinkable composition forms a biomaterial for augmenting hard tissue. In particular, the biomaterial may be used to augment at least one vertebra of the spine. The composition contains at least a first and a second precursor component.

In a preferred application, the composition is used in vertebroplasty. The composition used in vertebroplasty contains at least a first precursor component comprising tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane (29), a second precursor component comprising dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate (30) and a solid and/or insoluble contrast agent. Preferably, the composition contains BaSO₄ as the solid and/or insoluble contrast agent. Preferably the ratio of the number of the functional groups in the two precursor components is from about 0.8 to about 1.1, and most preferably from about 0.9 to about 1.0. Examples

Measurements:

Instrument Parameter

Viscosity + Bohlin Parallel Plates Plates diameter = 20 mm

Gel point Rheometer CVO 120 Gap between plates = 1 mm

Applied frequency = 5 Hz

Imposed strain = 2%

Temperature = 23 °C

Compression Zwick Universal if not indicated otherwise:

strength + Mechanical Testing Compression rate = 0.045 mm/s;

Young's Machine 1456

Sample height = 12±0.3 mm

modulus E

Sample diameter = 6±0.1 mm

Temperature = 23 ⁰C

E-modulus evaluation = slope of the linear regression fit between 1 and 2% of strain

Swelling Analytical balance Archimedes's principle buoyancy method

(liquid Mettler Toledo type Temperature = 23 °C

uptake) AB204-S equipped

with AB series density

kit

Example 1: Synthesis of Pentaery thritol tetrakis(3- mercaptopropyl)ether (27)

Step 1: Pentaery thritol tetraallylether

30.7 g (0.12 mol) of pentaerythritol triallylether was dissolved in

100 ml of dry THF and 4.4 g (0.18 mol) of NaH was added in small portions while stirring. After gas evolution had ceased, 16 ml (0.18 mol) of allyl

bromide was added and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. In order to drive the reaction to completion, it was subsequently brought to reflux and stirred for 1 hr. The precipitated salts were removed by filtration over ca. 1 cm of Celite 545 and the solvent and excess allyl bromide were evaporated, yielding 35.3 g (99.5%) of a pale yellow oil. The raw product was dissolved in 100 ml of diethyl ether and washed

subsequently with 50 ml of 0.1 M aqueous KHSO₄ and 50 ml of saturated aqueous NaHCθ₃ solution. Drying the organic layer with MgSO₄ and evaporation of the solvent yielded 34.4 g (97%) of the pure product.

Step: 2 Pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-thioacetopropyl)ether

24.8 g (83.8 mmol) of pentaerythritol tetraallylether, 28.8 g

(0.378 mol) of thioacetic acid, and 1.08 g (6.6 mmol) of AIBN were dissolved in 100 ml of THF, cooled to 2°C and degassed by 3 cycles of evacuation and purging with Ar. The solution was brought to reflux and stirred for 17 hrs. Then, another 6.12 g (80.4 mmol) of thioacetic acid, and 0.51 g (3.1 mmol) of AIBN were added and the reaction mixture was stirred under reflux for another 22 hrs., after which the solvent was evaporated. Yield: 55.5 g (110%) of a yellow oil. According to ¹H NMR analysis, 98.4% of the allyl groups had been converted.

Step: 3 Pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropyl)ether (27)

7.02 g (0.011 mol) of pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-thioacetopropyl)ether was dissolved in 30 ml of ethanol. The solution was degassed by 3 cycles of evacuation and purging with Ar and heated in a 60°C oil bath. 30.3 g (0.27 mol) of a 50% aqueous KOH solution was added dropwise in ca. 30 min. After another 30 min. stirring, the reaction mixture was allowed to cool down, poured into 100 ml of degassed 1 M aqueous KHSO₄ solution and brought to pH 2 by adding saturated aqueous KHSO₄ solution. The product was recovered by extraction with three 80 ml portions of diethyl ether. The combined organic layers were washed subsequently with 100 ml of saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ solution and 100 ml of saturated aqueous NaCl solution and dried over Na₂SO₄. Evaporating the solvent yielded 4.1 g (89%) of an amber colored oil. IR analysis showed the complete disappearance of the carbonyl signal at 1687 cm^'1. Example 2: Synthesis of 1,1,1-Trimethylolpropane tris (3- mercaptopropyl)ether

The first synthesis reaction was similar to the three steps in Example 1, however starting from 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane diallyl ether in step 1, which yielded in 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropyl)ether.

A second synthesis procedure, starting from 1,1,1 -tri-methylol- propanol in step 1 of Example 1, was also done. The other steps were performed similarly:

Example 3: Synthesis of l,2,4-Tris(2-mercaptoethyl)cycIohexane

22.2 g (0.137 mol) of 1 ,2,4-trivinylcyclohexane, 37.2 g (0.49 mol) of thioacetic acid, and 1.4 g (8.5 mmol) of AIBN were dissolved in 140 ml of THF under an Ar atmosphere. The solution was brought to reflux and stirred for 18 hrs. After cooling down, the solution was stirred for 30 min. with Dowex WGR2 resin, in order to bind the excess thioacetic acid, and filtered. The solvent was removed by rotary evaporation and the product was dispersed in a solution of 79.3 g (1.98 mol) of NaOH in 170 ml of water under an Ar atmosphere. The dispersion was heated to 80°C and stirred at that temperature for 4 hrs. After cooling to room temperature, concentrated hydrochloric acid was added slowly until the pH was 1 and the product was extracted with three 150 ml portions of dichloromethane. The combined organic layers were washed with 150 ml of 5% aqueous NaHCO₃ solution and with 100 ml of water and dried with MgSO₄. Removing the solvent yielded 27.3 g (76%) of the desired product. Example 4: Synthesis of 2,4,6,8-Tetra(2-mercaptoethyl)-2,4,6,8- tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (21)

23.7 g (0.069 mmol) of 2,4,6,8-Tetravinyl-2,4,6,8- tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane, 25.2 g (0.331 mmol) of thioacetic acid, and 0.91 g (5.5 mmol) of AIBN were dissolved in 110 ml of THF and flushed with nitrogen. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 15 hrs., after which it was cooled down to 40°C and the THF was distilled off at reduced pressure. The resulting oil was dissolved in 100 ml of ethanol and at room temperature 29 ml of 50% aqueous NaOH were added, causing the temperature to rise to 48°C. After the addition was complete, the mixture was heated to reflux for 4 hrs. and the mixture was concentrated to 25% of its original volume at reduced pressure. After cooling to room temperature, 187 g of 30% H₂SO₄ in water were added slowly. The product was extracted from the mixture with three 100 ml portions of dichloromethane. The combined organic layers were washed twice with 180 ml of saturated aqueous NaHCθ₃ solution. Evaporating the solvent and drying on the rotavap at 10 mbar for 5 hrs. yielded 32.9 g (99%) of a viscous, yellow oil. Molecular weight = 480.99 g/mol; 8.82 meq/g SH.

Example 5: Synthesis of Tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane (29)

Step 1: 20Og of Tetraallylsilane was reacted with 792g of thioacetic acid in 1600 mL THF using 8.54g of azobisisobutyrontrile (AIBN) as a free radical source. The reaction was carried out at 65°C. After reaction completion a part (approximatively 2/5) of the THF was removed by distillation and ethyl acetate was added to the reaction mixture. The mixture was washed with water, hydrogen carbonate (aq) and brine. After

concentration and co-evaporation with toluene, 535g of the crude tetrakis- (thioacetylpropyl)-silane was obtained as an oil (yield 104%).

Step 2: 579g of crude tetrakis-(thioacetylpropyl)-silane was mixed with 150OmL Methanol, cooled to 0°C and 18Og of an aqueous solution of NaOH slowly added to induce hydrolysis of the acetyl moiety. After reaction completion, the reaction mixture was neutralized with HCl (aq) and extracted with toluene. After washings (water), drying (N2SO4) and concentration 303g of the crude tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane (29) was obtained as an oil (yield 78%). The crude tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane (29) is purified using flash chromatography on silica gel with toluene/heptane (1 :1) as eluent. Tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane has a viscosity of 55.3 mPa.s at 23°C.

Example 6: Synthesis of tri(3-mercaptopropyl) trimetylolpropane (25) Step 1: trimethylolpropane triallylether

48 ml (0.224 mol) of trimethylolpropane diallyl ether was slowly added to 120 ml THF and 6.5 g (0.271 mol) of NaH in a 500 ml round bottom flask. Slow development of bubbles indicated the start of the redox reaction between R-OH and Na. The solution was stirred overnight. 23 ml (0.032 mol) of allyl bromide was dropped to the solution. The mixture got warm and milky and the suspension was left overnight. The solution was transferred into a separation funnel and the product was washed with H₂O, KHSO₄, again H₂O and NaCl. The organic layer was dried with MgSO₄ and evaporated.

Step 2: Radical addition ofthiacetic acid to allylic groups

41 g (0.164 mol) of trimethylolpropane triallylether, 36.7 ml (0.59 ml) of thioacetic acid and 1.67 g of AIBN were dissolved in 150 ml of THF in a 500 ml round bottom flask, equipped with reflux condenser,

thermometer and magnetic stirrer bar. The solution was stirred at 65 °C for 18 h. To bind thiacetic acid, 37 g of Dowex WGR-2 was added. After 30- 40 min of stirring, the solution was filtrated and dried with MgSO₄.

Step 3: tri(3-mercaptopropyl)trimethylolpropane

96 g (2.4 mol) of NaOH and thiolacetyl ester were added in 200 ml of water, stirring at 80 °C for 4 h. By addition of 200 ml of HCl, the suspension was acidified. 200 ml of chloroform was added and after 30 min transferred to a separation funnel. The solution was washed four times with water and 2 times with brine. The organic layer was dried with MgSO4 and the solvent was removed by rotary evaporation, yielding 38.1 g.

Examples 7- 8: Formation of Compositions for use in vertebroplasty

The silica used in Example 7 is commercially available from Cabot GmbH under the tradename CAB-O-SIL M-5; it is hydrophilic with an average particle size of 12nm. 100 μm BaSC«₄ is commercially available from Riedl-de Haehne (No. 11432 in Sigma Aldrich catalogue) or from Sachtleben Chemie GmbH under the trade name Sachtoperse HP, HU-N. Example 7: Formation of Composition from l,3_>5,7-tetra(2- mercaptoethyQ-l^S^-tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane and

dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate.

Formation of Bulk material

3.32 g of l,3,5,7-tetra(2-mercaptoethyl)- 1,3,5,7- tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (30 % w/w) and 2.9Og of dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate (30) (CAS registry number 60506-81-2, obtained from polysciences Inc.) (26 % w/w) were mixed together with a stainless-steel spatula for about 1 minute until homogeneity was achieved. 0.10 g of tributylamine (1% w/w) was added to the mixture of acceptor and donor. The mixture of acceptor, donor and base was further homogenized with the aid of the stainless-steel spatula. The adding of the base was taken as the "time- zero" reference point for the start of the polymerization reaction. 4.56 g of barium sulfate (41 % w/w) and 0.24 g of SiO2 (2 % w/w) were then poured into the liquid mixture of acceptor, donor and base. The mixture was manually homogenized for about 2 minutes with the aid of the stainless-steel spatula, and then transferred to a vertebroplasty gun barrel (OptiMed Cemento-RE gun). The material was used within 15 minutes from the addition of the base.

Characteristics of Resulting Biomaterial

Gelation time about 22 minutes at 23 °C;

Ultimate compressive strength is between 100 and 110 MPa;

Young's modulus E is between 400 and 460 MPa at 2% of strain and

0.045 mm/s; Example 8: Formation of Composition from tetra(3- mercaptopropyl)silane and dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate.

Formation of Bulk material

5.44 g of tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane (29) (24.5 % w/w) and 4 g of dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate (30) (CAS registry number 60506-81-2, obtained from polysciences Inc.) (17.6 % w/w) were mixed together with a stainless-steel spatula for about 1 minute until homogeneity was achieved. 0.225g of tributylamine (1% w/w) was added to the mixture of acceptor and donor. The mixture of acceptor, donor and base was further homogenized with the aid of the stainless-steel spatula. The adding of the base was taken as the "time-zero" reference point for the start of the polymerization reaction. 12.5 g of barium sulfate (56.4 % w/w) was then poured into the liquid mixture of acceptor, donor and base. The mixture was manually

homogenized for about 2 minutes with the aid of the stainless-steel spatula, and then transferred to vertebroplasty gun barrel (OptiMed Cemento-RE gun). The material was used within 15 minutes from the addition of the base.

Characteristics of Resulting Biomaterial

Gelation time: about 25 minutes at 23 °C; Stability: > 1 year at 37 °C;

Ultimate compressive strength is between 100 and 110 MPa (Figure Ib); Young's modulus E is between 60 and 80 MPa at 10% strain and 0.35 mm/s (between 500 and 600 MPa at 3% strain and 0.04 mm/s (Figure Ia));

Water uptake after 1 year in PBS solution at 37°C: 2.5%.

Example 9. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)

Specimen preparation

1.35 g of tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane (29) (24.5 % w/w) and 1.02 g of dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate (43) (CAS registry number 60506-81-2, obtained from polysciences Inc.) (17.6 % w/w) were poured directly from the original container into a 10 cm³ plastic syringe before being applied to a plastic bowl on an analytical balance. The two precursor components were then mixed together with a stainless-steel spatula for about 1 minute until homogeneity was achieved. 0.225g of tributylamine (1% w/w) was recovered from the original container with a 1 ml Hamilton syringe and then applied to the bowl containing the mixture of precursor components. The mixture of precursor components and base was further homogenized with the aid of the stainless-steel spatula. The adding of the base was taken as the "time-zero" reference point for the starting of the polymerization reaction. 3.13 g of barium sulfate (56.4 % w/w) was then poured from a 15 ml falcon tube into the liquid mixture of precursor components plus the base. The resulting mixture was homogenized for about 2 minutes with the aid of the stainless- steel spatula, before being transferred as a dough to a 10 cm³ plastic syringe. 0.5 cm³ of this dough was immediately injected between the plates of a rheometer for the performance of the DMA test.

Test methodology

The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) is a technique used to study and characterize the viscoelastic behavior of materials, in particular those of polymers. An oscillating strain is applied to a sample of material and the force opposed by the sample is measured. By measuring the time lag between the time of occurrence of the resulting force and the time when the displacement is applied, it is possible to determine the damping properties of the material. The time lag is reported as a phase lag measured in angle degrees. Phase lags of about 80-90° are typical for liquid/viscous materials, whereas values of around 0-10° are typical for solid/elastic materials. The 45° phase lag was defined as the "gel-point" i.e. the point of transition between the liquid and the solid phase during the polymerization reaction. DMA performed over time during the polymerization allowed the characterization of the cement's viscosity and the identification of the gel- point.

In the present experiment, a parallel-oscillating-plates rheometer was used. The plates of the instrument were placed at a fixed gap and the upper one oscillated at a preset amplitude and frequency, generating a strain in the material. The resulting force was measured together with the phase lag. The complex viscosity of the material (η*), representing an index of the pressure needed to deform the material, was then calculated automatically by the software. Measurements were taken at regular time intervals during the whole observation time. Between two measurements the oscillation of the plates was stopped. The plates of the rheometer were covered with an adhesive tape to avoid surface damage caused by the strong adherence of the cement as already applied in previous studies. After injection of the liquid cement, the plates were positioned at the set gap and any excess material was removed with a razor blade. The applied test conditions were as follows:

gap between plates =1000 μm

frequency = 5 Hz

imposed strain = 2%

temperature = 23 °C

waiting time = 20 s

observation time = 30 minutes

Test equipment

Rheometer Bohlin Instruments CVO 120

Software Bohlin for Windows CVO v06.00.03

Results are provided in figure 2. The adequate viscosity for injection is from 5 Pa-S to 200 Pa- s and the injectability range is from 5 minutes to 20 minutes.

Example 10. Injection test in human vertebra

Introduction

The main purpose of the study was to investigate the radiopacity and the injection properties of the composition/biomaterial in a human cadaver spine injection model that mimics the same clinical technique used for Percutaneous Vertebroplasty.

Moreover, the injection tests were performed to assess leakage, working time, ease of composition preparation and handling of the composition. The tests were performed at different times from the start of the polymerization in order to identify the working time.

Evaluation of the use of a bowl vs. a 50 ml plastic syringe for mixing the cement, as well as cement availability after recovery from the two mixing devices was also investigated.

The composition is composed of two liquid synthetic organic molecules (Tetra-[3-mercaptopropyl] silane and dipentaerythritol penta- acrylate), bearing separate multifunctional donor and acceptor groups, a liquid organic base (tributylamine) to initiate polymerization and a powdered inorganic filler (barium sulphate) for optimal Theological and radiopaque properties.

The nucleophile donor and the electrophilic acceptor were selected to form covalent bonds with each other under physiological conditions following a Michael-type addition reaction.

After the addition of the base, the composition hardened in situ in minutes to form the biomaterial and was expected to reach its final mechanical properties of about 100 MPa compression strength and about 500 MPa compression stiffness in 24 hours.

The basic transpedicular vertebroplasty technique is performed by positioning the tip of the needle in the centre of one of the two spinal pedicles and advancing the needle so that it is positioned along a line drawn through the middle of the pedicle. Following the positioning of the needle, the composition is injected into the vertebral body.

Methods

The composition was applied by either a standard vertebroplasty injection gun (Optimed® Cemento-RE 1392-0000) or 1 ml polycarbonate syringes. One test with a Parallax EZflow® Cement Delivery Systems vertebroplasty injection device was also performed. All the injections were performed by using a 10 Gauge, 100 mm needle (Optimed® Cemento-RE 1392-1010 - nominal outer diameter 3.2 mm). Following the positioning of the needle, the composition was injected into the vertebra under fluoroscopy.

The following parameters were assessed:

Radiopacity of the composition/biomaterial as seen in the fluoroscopy images during injection (qualitative)

Injection properties (qualitative):

Ease of injection i.e. pressure needed to eject the material from the injection device and into the bone composition;

Flow and flow control (leakage control) by changing the direction of the needle bevel and by interruption of the pressure on the injection device

Leakage (qualitative) - as the goal was the evaluation of the overall composition injection properties, it was attempted to inject all the available material per vertebra, which was often beyond the volume of composition that would be injected in clinical settings Vertebral body filling assessed as end plate to end plate filling, diffusion of the composition into the trabecular bone and composition crossing the midline from the monopedicular approach

The working time window was evaluated quantitatively according to the following methods: the time of addition of the base was noted for each preparation and recorded as TO for the beginning of the polymerization. The injection start times were recorded and compared to the injection end time to evaluate the working time window

Composition preparation procedure/handling as a qualitative assessment

Composition availability and recovery from the two mixing devices was also investigated

Materials

4.08 g of dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate and 3 g of TMS were extruded from their respective syringes and mixed for about 20 s in the mixing container with a plastic spatula. 180 microliter of tributylamine was taken from the original container with a microsyringe, added to the mixture of the precursor components and the mixture was stirred. Finally, the 9.38 g of barium sulfate was added from the plastic Falcon tube and carefully mixed with the other components for about 1 min and until the mixture looked homogeneous. At this point, the composition was ready to be transferred into the barrel of the Optimed® gun or into a 1 ml polycarbonate syringe for vertebral injection. Time zero (TO) is always referred to as the time when the base was added to the mixture

Injection of the composition into 12 thoracolumbar vertebral bodies of two female cadavers was performed by an interventional radiologist.

Results

Table 2 summarizes the quantitative and qualitative parameters investigated in the study.

KUROS 100 CIP PCT

Footnotes to Table 2:

'limit due to end of material for injection

²end point NA

³ Many of the leakages seen in the tests can be related to the excess of material injected

⁴1 cc = Ice polycarbonate plastic syringes

⁵Gun = Optimed® gun injection system; Gun+tube is the gun used with the connector tube which is part of the Optimed kit

Parallax EZflow® Cement Delivery System

Discussion and Conclusions

The human cadaver spine injection tests were performed to study the radiopacity and the injectability of the composition under the same conditions as for a vertebroplasty procedure. Leakage, working time and cement

preparation/handling were assessed.

All the injections were performed starting between 7 and 14 minutes and were completed 17 to 21 minutes after the addition of the Base (TO). Consistent injection properties (flow and flow control, vertebral body filling and leakage) were observed independently of early or late injection times. At late injection times, injections were slightly harder to perform than at early injection times, but still similar to those for marketed PMMA, and there was a shorter working window.

Radiopacity:

The biomaterial was highly radiopaque and easily visible under fluoroscopy when injected into vertebral bodies.

Ease of injectability:

Injectability was evaluated as ease of injection with different devices i.e. 1 ml polycarbonate syringes, the Optimed® Cemento-RE gun and the Parallax EZflow® injection system. Injections of the compositions were overall judged to be good with all injection systems tested, and generally easier to perform than with marketed PMMA.

Flow properties:

The compositions flowed nicely into the trabecular bone and distributed compactly away from the tip of the needle. With all of the injection systems KUROS 100 CIP PCT used, the material flowed into the vertebral body in a controlled manner.

Correction of the material distribution during injection was easily achieved by rotating the needle tip and by stopping the injection for a while, and restarting it afterwards.

Leakage:

The tendency of the compositions to leakage was judged to be not higher than clinically used and marketed PMMA. Many of the leakages seen in the tests can be related to the excess volume of material injected, which is above clinically relevant amounts.

Vertebral body filling:

With the composition/biomaterial, the vertebral bodies were filled from end plate to end plate. The material in some cases crossed the midline and distributed also in the other hemi-vertebra respect to the side from where the injection was performed. This makes it possible to perform clinically relevant filling of cement in the vertebra with a monopedicular approach.

It is understood that the disclosed invention is not limited to the particular methodology, protocols, and reagents described as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims.

Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific

embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

KUROS 100 CIP PCT We claim:

1. A method for augmenting hard tissue, comprising applying to the tissue a composition comprising at least a first and a second precursor component and a contrast agent, wherein the first precursor component comprises at least m nucleophilic groups and the second precursor component comprises dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate, and crosslinking the first and second precursor components under physiological conditions to form a biomaterial.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the hard tissue is at least one vertebra.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the first precursor component is selected from the group consisting of monomers, oligomers, polymers, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first precursor component is a monomer.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the first precursor component comprises a silane derivative.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first component comprises a silane derivative having at least one thiol as a nucleophilic group.

7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the nucleophilic groups of the first precursor component are selected from the group consisting of thiols and amines.

8. The method of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first precursor component comprises tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane.

9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the amount of contrast agent is from about 4 weight % to about 80 weight % of the total composition.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the contrast agent is barium sulfate.

11. The method any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the composition further comprises a base. KUROS 100 CIP PCT

12. A biomaterial for augmenting hard tissue comprising a polymeric network formed from a composition comprising at least a first and a second precursor component and a contrast agent, wherein the first component comprises at least m nucleophilic groups and the second precursor component comprises dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate.

13. The biomaterial of claim 12, wherein the amount of contrast agent is from about 4 weight % to about 80 weight % of the total composition

14. The biomaterial of claim 12 or 13, wherein the contrast agent is barium sulfate.

15. The biomaterial of any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the first component comprises silane derivatives having at least one thiol as a nucleophilic group.

16. The biomaterial of any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein the first precursor component comprises tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane.

17. A kit for forming in situ crosslinkable composition for augmenting a hard tissue comprising at least a first precursor component and a second precursor component and a contrast agent, wherein the first precursor component comprises at least m nucleophilic groups and the second precursor component comprises dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate, the first and second precursor components being capable of crosslinking under physiological conditions to form a biomaterial.

18. The kit of claim 17 wherein the first precursor component comprises a silane derivative.

19. The kit of claim 17 or 18, wherein the first precursor comprises tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane.

20. The kit of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the amount of contrast agent is from about 4 weight % to about 80 weight % of the total composition

21. The kit of any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the contrast agent is barium sulfate. KUROS 100 CIP PCT

22. A biomaterial for augmenting hard tissue comprising a polymeric network formed from a composition comprising at least a first and a second precursor component and a contrast agent, wherein the first component comprises at least m nucleophilic groups and the second component comprises at least n conjugated unsaturated groups,

wherein m +n is at least five, and

wherein the amount of contrast agent is from about 40 weight % about 80 weight % of the total composition.

23. The biomaterial of claim 22 wherein the second precursor component comprises dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate.

24. The biomaterial of claim 22 or 23, wherein the contrast agent is barium sulfate.

25. The biomaterial of any one of claims 22 to 24 wherein the first precursor comprises tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)silane.

26. A kit for forming in situ crosslinkable composition for augmenting a hard tissue comprising at least a first precursor component, a second precursor component and a contrast agent,

wherein the first precursor component comprises at least m nucleophilic groups and the second precursor component comprises at least n electrophilic groups,

wherein m+n is at least five,

the first and second precursor components crosslink under physiological conditions to form a biomaterial, and

wherein the amount of contrast agent is from about 40 weight % to about 80 weight % of the total composition.

27. The kit of claim 26, wherein the first precursor comprises tetra(3- mercaptopropyl)silane.

28. The kit of claim 26 or 27, wherein the second precursor component comprises dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate.

29. The kit of any of the claims 26 to 28, wherein the contrast agent is barium sulfate.