The present invention encompasses the finding that certain treatments (e.g., surface modifications) to particulate materials can provide surprising and unexpected benefits and/or features to composites and/or compositions as described herein. In some embodiments, such benefits and/or features may render particular composites and/or compositions particularly useful in a certain therapeutic context (e.g, for repair of tibial plateau, femoral head, craniofacial, or lateral mandibular body defects). The present invention demonstrates that certain composites and/or compositions wherein the particular material is or comprises defatted bone have surprising and beneficial attributes.