Study on the preparation of some biocomposites based on silicone elastomers and collagen

• Published in: Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials Vol. 9; no. 11; pp. 3325 - 3329
• Main Authors: Zuga, M D, Iovu, H, Trandafir, V, Manaila, E, Martin, D, Stelescu, M M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.11.2007
• ISSN: 1454-4164

This work presents investigations carried out with the aim of obtaining biocomposites based on silicone elastomers and collagen with an improved biocompatibility as compared to the single silicone elastomer. To prepare the above biocomposites the following procedures were used: - preparing a blend of silicone elastomer and a natural polymer-collagen; SI-COL biocoposites based on silicone elastomer containing 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20 % (by weight) collagen hydrolysate were obtained; three types of collagen hydrolyzates-HOC2, HOC8 and HOG8 were used; - the accelerated electron irradiation crosslinking was used instead of thermal crosslinking by peroxides. The highest crosslinking in the silicone elastomer was obtained with an irradiation dose of 20 Mrad. At this dose the crosslinking in the SI-COL biocomposite blends was achieved. When comparing physico-mechanical characteristics of these biocomposites crosslinked with accelerated electrons with those of biocomposites crosslinked with peroxides, the irradiation assisted crosslinking has resulted to be more efficient because of a homogeneous crosslinking within the biocomposite blend mass. The biocomposite blends containing HOC8 collagen hydrolysate crosslinked by irradiation have shown higher values of such characteristics as elasticity, tensile strength and tear strength; this can be explained by the homogenous morphology of such biocomposites. Further investigations with biological tests on cell cultures are to be performed. As the starting, biomaterials are known to be biocompatible, when preparing blends of silicone elastomer with 5, 10 %, 15 % and 20 % (by weight) natural polymer (collagen), the biocomposite biocompatibility is expected to be improved.