The present application relates to bioactive implants, methods of making bioactive implants, and methods of using bioactive implants to treat or repair a bone defect or a cartilage defect. In an aspect, the present application relates to compositions comprising bone microparticles in a solution, wherein the compositions harden upon desiccation into bioactive implants. In an aspect, the present application relates to compositions comprising cartilage microparticles in a solution, wherein the compositions harden upon desiccation into bioactive implants. In an aspect, disclosed herein are methods of making and using the disclosed compositions comprising bone microparticles and the disclosed composition comprising cartilage microparticles. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.