Silicone rubber-hydrogel composites as polymeric biomaterials: IX. Composites containing powdery polyacrylamide hydrogel

A composite material has been prepared consisting of a silicone rubber matrix and particulate lightly cross-linked polyacrylamide hydrogel. The material, resembling common silicone rubber, is hydrophilic and swells in water like hydrogels. The polyacrylamide has a high specific surface area, a relatively low content of water-soluble low-molecular-weight compounds and, owing to its nonionogenic character, a pH-independent swelling degree. For the composite material consisting of the silicone rubber and very fine powdery cross-linked polyacrylamide, we have measured the rate of swelling in water, the mechanical properties (tensile strength, break elongation, hardness, resilience), biological properties (implantation test, cytotoxicity, cell cultivation) and UV absorption of its water extracts. The polyacrylamide and polysiloxane purity, as the composite material starting components, has been determined to be satisfactory. As a result, a high swelling rate of the prepared composite material has been observed, resulting in reaching more than 70% wt of water of the equilibrium swelling. The results show that the composite material is suitable for biological and medical use.