Silicones as biomaterials

Silicon has the ability to form polymeric chains, commonly linear chains of dimethylsiloxane, although other organic groups can be substituted for methyl. In addition, the properties of the resultant silicone polymers can vary with composition and curing procedure. This leads to a wide range of materials known as the silicones. This group of polymers, which have excellent biocompatibility, have been utilised to develop and manufacture a wide range of biomedical products. These range from simple tubing to complex implants, for example those used to replace diseased finger joints. The versatility of these materials has led to silicone products being employed in almost every medical speciality.