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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Improved Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Double Casting via Silicone Oil Treatment for Densely Packed Microstructure Replication
Published on: July 18, 2025
Development of emulsification-resistant silicone oils: can we go beyond 2000 mPas silicone oil?
Albert Caramoy1, Nadine Hagedorn, Sascha Fauser
1Center of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. acaramoy@yahoo.co.uk
Purpose:
To develop new blends of emulsification-resistant silicone oil based on high molecular weight (HMW) silicone oil for use as an endotamponade in vitreoretinal surgery.
Methods:
Viscosity and elasticity of various silicone oil blends (Siluron 1000, Siluron 2000, Siluron 5000, 7% HMW + Siluron 1000, 10% HMW + Siluron 1000, and 15% HMW + Siluron 1000; Fluoron GmbH, Ulm, Germany) were measured using a piezoelectric axial vibrator. Emulsification was induced using a sonication device. Pluronic 10%, plasma, and serum were used as emulsifiers. The emulsion area was photographed and measured using ImageJ software (developed by Wayne Rasband, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; available at http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/index.html).
Results:
Viscosity increased proportionally to HMW concentrations. Fluid elasticity was optimum using 10% HMW. Emulsification was at a minimum when using 10% or 15% HMW blends.
Conclusions:
A new silicone oil-based tamponade was developed with a viscosity similar to Siluron 5000 (at 37°C) but with significantly less emulsification tendency than Siluron 5000 or Siluron 2000. HMW concentration increases the fluid elasticity, thereby reducing the emulsification tendency.
