Biocompatible material for bone repair, especially vertebral bone repair, preferably has three components. The first component is silicon nitride ceramic spheres or shells that can be polyhedral in shape. When grouped together, these ceramic spheres or shells form tessellates having a similar degree of stiffness, strain and stress resistance to cancellous bone. The second component comprises various bioactive factors that are preferably osteoconductive, osteoinductive and osteogenic. The third component is a liquid or gel that combines with the first and second components to form a composite.
