The
Technology for Wettable Silicones
Silicone surfaces are exceptionally water repellent,
which can be problematic particularly in biomedical
applications. The wetting agents developed by EnRoute
Interfaces dramatically increase water wetting, with
an attendant efficiency in reducing biofouling. Some
of the compounds have antimicrobial activity.
Generic Structures
The silicone structures have been tuned to be
particularly adapted to silicone environments (n-Wet),
or more organic environments (o-Wet). In addition, an
evolving series of functional silicones (r-Wet) are
being developed that possess organic functionality so
that the materials can also act as covalent adhesion
promoters.
Bioactivity
Our proprietary surfactants
selectively kill against S. aureus, C.
albicans and A. brasiliensis.
Applications
The wetting agents are particularly useful for surface
wetting applications, and particularly in microfluidics.
They may be simply coated onto existing silicone
elastomers, or introduced into un-cured fluids and then
cured.
References:
- Chen, H., Brook, M. A., Chen, Y. And Sheardown, H., J. Biomaterials Sci., Polym. Ed., 2005, 16, 531-548.
- Brook, M., A., Wang, Y. and Chen, Y., US Patent Application 20120226001