Silicones in medicine

Silicones in medicine and surgery Silicone water repellants (Japan)... 

Keywords Polysiloxanes, silicones, appUcation of silicones in pharmacy, silicones in medicinal products, sihcones in medical products, siUcone excipients, dimethicone, simethicone, PDMS... 

The fluids have also found a number of uses in medicine. Barrier creams based on silicone fluids have been found to be particularly useful against the cutting oils in metal machinery processes which are common industrial irritants. The serious and often fatal frothy bloat suffered by ruminants can be countered by the use of small quantities of silicone fluid acting as an antifoam. 

Because of their chemical inertness, low surface tension and antisurfactant activity polyorganosiloxane (silicone) oils have found varied applications in medicine. These have included use as an artificial lubricant for arthritic joints191, as a means of soft tissue augmentation, and as an additive in creams and oils for burn treatment. Di-methylpolysiloxane fluids have been injected as replacement for aqueous and vitreous humour in eyes. Reactive organosilicon compounds comprise a new class of potential prophylactic and therapeutic agents192. Protection against atherosclerosis... 

A reinforcing filler, for example, highly dispersed silicon dioxide, is added to the mixture to produce vulcanizated material with improved strength. Cast silicone organic composites are widely used in electrical and electronic devices, in medicine, in the aircraft industry, etc., due to their ease of processing and the advantageous physical and chemical properties of the cured materials. 

Low-molecular silicone elastomers are viscous liquids which do not contain solvents and solidify at room temperature. The specific properties of SKTN allow one to use them as insulation against heat, moisture and electricity in various miniature and large units of machines, mechanisms and devices, as well as for thermal, electrical and vibration sealing of various devices. The physiological inertness of elastomers accounts for their wide applications in medicine. 

Silicone liquids in medicine, pharmaceutics and beauty treatment. 

Application of silicone compounds in medicines (1984) In series Elementorganic compounds and their application. NUTEKhim Moscow, [in Russian]... 

Elementorganic polymers are not only highly thermostable, but also perform well under low temperatures, sunlight, humidity, weather, etc. Besides, their physics and chemistry change little in a wide temperature range. Thus, these polymers (especially silicones) are widely and effectively used in the electrical, radio, coal, mechanical rubber, aircraft, metallurgical, textile and other industries. They are of great utility not only in industry, but also in households and in medicine, where their merits can hardly be overestimated. 

Barrier preparations. Many different kinds have been devised for use in medicine, in industry and in the home to reduce dermatitis. They rely on water-repellent substances, e.g. silicones (dimethicone cream), and on soaps, as well as on substances that form an impermeable deposit (titanium, zinc, calamine). The barrier preparations are useful in protecting skin from discharges and secretions (colostomies, napkin rash) but they are ineffective when used under industrial working conditions. Indeed, the irritant properties of some barrier creams can enhance the percutaneous penetration of noxious substances. A simple after-work emollient is more effective. 

A90. R. Levin, The Pharmacy of Silicones and Their Uses in Medicine. Morgan Bros., London, 1958. 

A98. Silicones for Use in Medicine, published jointly by Midland Silicones Ltd., and... 

Biomedical applications of silicones are numerous, while silicon-based oils find important applications as lubricants in medicine, in aeronautical domains, or in the automobile and petroleum industries. Silicone elastomers are used as medical tubings, catheters, prostheses and mammary and facial implants. 

Silicones are widely used as inert materials in medicine. In particular, their use in silicon breast implants and catheters has raised questions regarding the interaction of silicones with human cells and tissues. The mobility, toxicology, and immunology of silicones in higher animal systems have been investigated extensively over the last decade. It is not possible to adequately cover the relevant literature in this chapter and readers are directed to a recent review dealing with these aspects. 

Hirner, A. V. Flassbeck, D. Speciation of Silicon. In Handbook of Elemental Speciation II Species in the Environment, Food, Medicine Occupational Health-, Cornelis, R., Caruso, J., Crews, H., Heumann, K., Eds. Wiley Chichester, 2005 pp 366-377. 

Benzoyl peroxide is used as a source of free radicals in many organic syntheses and to initiate polymerizations of styrene, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, and acrylics to cure thermoset polyester resins and silicone rubbers in medicine for treating acne and for bleaching vegetable oil, cheese, flour, and fats. 

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is the simplest of organosilicone elastomers. PDMS was commercially developed by Dow Coming in the 1960 s. It possesses inertness and usefiil mechanical properties, and can also be readily made into various desired shapes for medical items including prostheses of different bone and soft tissue elements (in surgery), and ancillary components such as tubes, catheters, shunts and dmg carriers. In addition, PDMS has shown good compatibility in clinical research.(7) So it has been a very usefiil synthetic polymer in medicine. In fact, silicone polymers are often employed in checking the biocompatibility of new polymers. Furthermore, organosilicones comprise an important class of compounds used in resins, and room temperature and heat-cured robber industrial and consumer products. 

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