Preparation and characterization of silicone rubber/nano-copper nanocomposites for use in intrauterine devices

Issue title: Frontiers in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology – Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, 11–13 October 2013, Wuhan, China

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Chen, Yongjun^; | Luo, Yuanfang | Jia, Zhixin | Jia, Demin | Chen, Juan

Affiliations: Department of Polymer Materials and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Wushan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: In this work, a novel silicone rubber/nano-copper nanocomposite for use in intrauterine devices (IUDs) was developed. Moreover, the release rate of Cu2+ ions and the water absorption of the prepared nanocomposite were investigated in detail. The results indicate that the release rate of Cu2+ ions and water absorption capability of the silicone rubber/nanocopper nanocomposite increase as the nano-copper content increases. SEM analysis suggested there is a uniform dispersion of nano-copper in the silicone matrix. Further, systematic analysis indicated that the release rate of Cu2+ ions in the prepared nanocomposite-based IUD can be stabilized for months, which is not possible in the case of traditional IUDs.

Keywords: silicone rubber, nano-copper, nanocomposites, intrauterine devices

DOI: 10.3233/BME-130929

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 1269-1274, 2014