Organic-inorganic hybrid particle material and polymer compositions containing same

Particulate materials useful as fillers, reinforcing agents, radioopacifiers, or impact modifiers. The particulate materialhas an average particle size range of about 10, 000 nm or less and comprises an organic-inorganic hybrid material that has a ceramic material network having organic polymer segments distributed throughout the ceramic network. The ceramic network may be prepared by a sol-gel technique. The particulate material may be compounded in thermoplastic polymer compositions useful in a variety of applications such as preparation of medical device components.