Hydrophilisation of silicone rubber for medical applications

Abstract Silicone rubber is one of the biomaterials used for preparation of medical implants. The properties of silicone rubber and methods of their evaluation are surveyed with respect to the medical applications. For some applications the hydrophobic character of silicone rubber is undesirable and possibilities of its hydrophilisation are presented in this review as well. Special attention is paid to the process of preparation of hydrophilic silicone rubber–hydrogel composite materials based on acrylic and methacrylic acids derivatives and to the properties of such materials. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry