Minimizing surface adhesion of Sylgard 184 for medical applications

Abstract

Silicones such Sylgard 184 are widely employed in biological applications due to their versatile properties. However, their inherently adhesive surfaces can restrict their application, especially in direct contact with damaged biological tissues, potentially compromising patient comfort. To enhance the surface properties of Sylgard 184 while maintaining its transparency in the visible spectrum, a novel low-temperature method (70 °C) has been developed. This method involves immersing PDMS in a solution of titanium (IV) ethoxide in THF, thus inducing swelling of the silicone's polymer network, followed by the diffusion and condensation of titanium (IV) ethoxide within the polymer matrix. The resulting hybrid material, incorporating amorphous titanium oxide within the silicone network, exhibits significantly increased surface hardness compared to unmodified Sylgard 184, while retaining transparency and improving biological behaviour. The elaborated method holds promising potential for enhancing the performance of silicone-based materials in diverse biomedical applications.