Increased water transport in PDMS silicone films by addition of excipients
Journal article, 2012

The development of new adhesive wound care products intended for an application over a prolonged time requires good water transporting properties of the adhesive for the maintenance of a suitable environment around the wound. The ability of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based silicone films to transport water has led to its use in skin pressure-sensitive adhesives and it would be advantageous to find ways for controlling or increasing water transport across PDMS films in order to be able to develop improved skin adhesives. In this study we present a way to increase water transport in such films by the addition of hydrophilic excipients. Three hydrophilic additives, highly water-soluble sucrose and the two superabsorbent polymers (SAP) Carbopol (R) and Pemulen (TM), were investigated. The effect of the excipients was characterized by water transport studies, swelling tests, scanning electron microscopy imaging and confocal microscopy. The cross-linked polymers, primarily Pemulen (TM), were efficient water transport enhancers, whereas sucrose did not show any effect. The effect of the additives seemed to correlate with their water binding capacity. For SAPs the formation of a percolating structure by swollen polymer was also suggested, which enhances water penetration by the higher volume fraction of areas with a higher diffusion constant (swollen SAP), leading to a faster transport through the entire film.

Author

Annika Borde

SuMo Biomaterials

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Pharmaceutical Technology

Mikael Larsson

SuMo Biomaterials

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Pharmaceutical Technology

Ylva Odelberg

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Pharmaceutical Technology

Joel H Hagman

SuMo Biomaterials

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Applied Surface Chemistry

Peter Löwenhielm

Mölnlycke healthcare

Anette Larsson

SuMo Biomaterials

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Pharmaceutical Technology

Acta Biomaterialia

1742-7061 (ISSN) 18787568 (eISSN)

Vol. 8 2 579-88

Subject Categories

Materials Engineering

Other Basic Medicine

Areas of Advance

Life Science Engineering (2010-2018)

Materials Science

DOI

10.1016/j.actbio.2011.09.022

More information

Latest update

8/18/2020