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Gamma Irradiation of Silicones

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Abstract

Silicones in various forms have been utilized in biomedical applications over the past several decades. While silicone elastomers are currently the most common silicone biomaterial, low molar mass cyclic silicones, low molar mass linear silicones, silicone oligomers, silicone polymers and silicone gels have each found applications as biomaterials. For the biomedical applications of silicones, it is required that the materials be sterilized prior to application or implantation. Common methods of sterilization include steam sterilization, ethylene oxide sterilization, electron beam sterilization and gamma sterilization. In this review we will describe the behavior of various silicones upon exposure to gamma radiation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cincinnati, 400 Rhodes Hall, ML 0012, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA

    Aniruddha S. Palsule

  2. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cincinnati, 601B ERC, ML 0012, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA

    Stephen J. Clarson

  3. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, 4545 Creek Road, Cincinnati, OH, 45242-2839, USA

    Christopher W. Widenhouse

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  1. Aniruddha S. Palsule
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  2. Stephen J. Clarson
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  3. Christopher W. Widenhouse
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Correspondence to Stephen J. Clarson.

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Palsule, A.S., Clarson, S.J. & Widenhouse, C.W. Gamma Irradiation of Silicones. J Inorg Organomet Polym 18, 207–221 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-008-9205-0

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