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Antimicrobial Silicon Rubber Crosslinked with Bornyl-Siloxane
Chen Chen1, Songtao Wang1, Xinyu Chen1
1State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China.
Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|January 9, 2025
Summary
New silicone rubber (SiR) incorporates borneol for intrinsic antimicrobial properties, significantly reducing bacterial and mold adhesion. This innovation offers enhanced safety for medical implants and devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Silicone rubber (SiR) is widely used in medical applications but lacks inherent antimicrobial properties, posing infection risks for implants and devices.
- Existing antimicrobial SiR solutions often involve adding agents or surface modifications, which can be complex and may not provide intrinsic resistance.
- There is a need for intrinsically antimicrobial silicone rubber materials synthesized through straightforward processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel silicone rubber with intrinsic antimicrobial activity.
- To synthesize SiR using a new bornyl-siloxane crosslinker for enhanced medical applications.
- To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy, biocompatibility, and safety of the developed material.
Main Methods:
- Design and synthesis of a double substituted bornyl-siloxane crosslinker (BC).
- Room-temperature reaction of BC with hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to create SiR with borneol side groups.
- Antimicrobial assays against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aspergillus niger; subcutaneous implantation in mice for biocompatibility and safety assessment.
Main Results:
- The synthesized SiR exhibited excellent antimicrobial adhesion properties, with 20 wt.% BC cross-linked networks showing 99.4% inhibition of E. coli and 97.3% of S. aureus adhesion.
- The material demonstrated long-lasting anti-mold adhesion against Aspergillus niger (over 99% for 30 days).
- Subcutaneous implantation in mice confirmed excellent anti-infection capabilities, biocompatibility, and safety.
Conclusions:
- A novel, intrinsically antimicrobial silicone rubber was successfully synthesized using a bornyl-siloxane crosslinker.
- The developed material shows significant potential for reducing infections associated with medical devices and implants.
- This biocompatible and safe silicone rubber is promising for broad adoption in various medical products and coatings.
