Application Progress and Challenges of Silicone Rubber in the Biomedical Field

In the biomedical field, the biocompatibility, functionality, and safety of materials are the key factors determining their application value. With its unique properties, such as good biocompatibility, flexibility, and chemical stability, silicone rubber has shown great application potential in the biomedical field. However, it also faces some challenges that need to be addressed urgently.

Application Progress

• Tissue Engineering Scaffolds: Tissue engineering aims to repair or replace damaged tissues by constructing bioactive scaffolds. Due to its controllable physical properties, silicone rubber has become one of the ideal materials for preparing tissue engineering scaffolds. Through advanced 3D printing technology, the microstructure of silicone rubber scaffolds can be precisely designed to have an appropriate porosity and pore size, which is conducive to cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. For example, in cartilage tissue engineering, silicone rubber scaffolds can provide a favorable growth environment for chondrocytes and promote the regeneration of cartilage tissue. At the same time, the surface of silicone rubber can be modified to introduce bioactive molecules, such as growth factors, to further enhance the biological function of the scaffold.
• Drug Sustained-release Carriers: Silicone rubber can be used as a drug sustained-release carrier to achieve long-term and controlled drug release. By encapsulating drugs in the silicone rubber matrix and adjusting the composition and structure of the silicone rubber, the drug release rate and release time can be controlled. In the treatment of some chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, the silicone rubber drug sustained-release system can continuously and stably release drugs, improve the efficacy of the drugs, and reduce the toxic and side effects of the drugs. In addition, the flexibility and processability of silicone rubber enable it to be made into drug carriers of various shapes and sizes to meet different clinical needs.
• Medical Device Accessories: Silicone rubber is widely used in the accessories of various medical devices, such as urinary catheters, infusion tubes, and artificial heart valves. Its good biocompatibility and flexibility enable these medical devices to better adapt to human tissues during use, reducing irritation and damage to the human body. For example, the surface of the silicone rubber urinary catheter is smooth, which is not likely to cause urinary tract infections, improving the comfort and treatment effect of patients.

Challenges

• Lack of Bioactivity: Although silicone rubber has good biocompatibility, it lacks bioactivity itself and cannot actively promote cell growth and tissue repair. In order to improve the bioactivity of silicone rubber, complex surface modification and functionalization treatments are required, which increases the difficulty and cost of material preparation.
• Mechanical Property Matching Problem: In some biomedical applications, such as bone tissue engineering, there is a large difference between the mechanical properties of silicone rubber and natural tissues, making it difficult to meet actual needs. New methods need to be developed to enhance the mechanical properties of silicone rubber and make them match the mechanical properties of surrounding tissues to avoid stress concentration and tissue damage during use.
• Long-term Stability: In the complex physiological environment of the organism, silicone rubber may undergo phenomena such as aging and degradation, affecting its performance and safety. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct in-depth research on the long-term stability of silicone rubber in the organism and develop effective protective measures to ensure its reliability during long-term use.

General purpose Precipitated Extruded Silicone Rubber