Light-Induced Bulk Architecturation of PDMS Membranes

• Published in: Macromolecular materials and engineering Vol. 301; no. 10; pp. 1151 - 1157
• Main Authors: Stricher, Arthur, Rinaldi, Renaud G., Machado, Guilherme, Chagnon, Gregory, Favier, Denis, Chazeau, Laurent, Ganachaud, François
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.10.2016; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Wiley-VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Anisotropy; Biocompatibility; Chemical Sciences; Crosslinking; Density; elastomer; Elastomers; Material chemistry; materials by design; Mechanical properties; Membranes; PDMS; Polymers; Silicones; UV-light; elastomer; materials by design; UV‐light; PDMS
• ISSN: 1438-7492; 1439-2054
• DOI: 10.1002/mame.201600237

One major challenge of biomaterial engineering is to mimic the mechanical properties of anisotropic, multifunctional natural soft tissues. Existing solutions toward controlled anisotropy include the use of oriented reinforcing fillers, with complicated interface issues, or UV‐curing processing through patterned masks, that makes use of harmful photosensitive molecules. Here, a versatile process to manufacture biocompatible silicone elastomer membranes by light degradation of the platinum catalyst prior to thermal cross‐linking is presented. The spatial control of network density is demonstrated by experimental and theoretical characterizations of the mechanical responses of patterned cross‐linked membranes, with a view to mimic advanced implantable materials. A versatile process to manufacture bio‐compatible silicone elastomer membranes, with a spatial control of the cross‐linking density and ultimately related mechanical properties, is presented. Experimental and theoretical characterizations of the mechanical responses of patterned cross‐linked membranes, e.g., by bulge test, demonstrate the high potential and simplicity of this technique to design advanced implantable materials.