Silicone-Polyether Copolymers for Medical Adhesives

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives require on-web curing processes that can be destructive to excipients or active agents and are incompatible with hydrophilic additives, leading to ineffective adhesion and function.

Innovation Solution

A silicone-polyether copolymer composition that does not require on-web curing, featuring a backbone with silicone and polyether segments connected via oxamide or urea linkages, allowing for the incorporation of antimicrobial agents and excipients without phase separation or destruction, and providing strong skin adhesion with gentle removal characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If on-web curing processes (thermal heating and/or radiation processing) are used to achieve higher adhesion performance, then adhesion strength is improved, but the excipients or active agents incorporated in the adhesive are destroyed or phase-separated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhesion performanceVSAvoidstability of excipients and active agents

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the adhesive by incorporating polyether segments with hydrophilic groups (oxamide or urea linkages) into the silicone polymer backbone. This compositional parameter change enables the adhesive to achieve high adhesion performance without requiring destructive on-web curing processes, as the hydrophilic groups provide sufficient polarity and bonding capability for skin adhesion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite polymer structure by combining silicone segments (for adhesion and biocompatibility) with polyether segments (for hydrophilicity and fluid management) connected via oxamide or urea linkages. This composite material structure achieves multiple functions simultaneously: strong adhesion, stability of active agents, and compatibility with hydrophilic additives, eliminating the need for destructive curing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If existing silicone adhesives are used to achieve good biocompatibility and low surface energy, then skin compatibility is improved, but the adhesives are hydrophobic and lack capability for fluid management and compatibility with hydrophilic additives

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiocompatibility and skin compatibilityVSAvoidfluid management capability and compatibility with hydrophilic additives

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by incorporating hydrophilic polyether segments with oxamide or urea linkages at specific locations within the silicone polymer backbone. This creates localized hydrophilic regions that provide fluid management capability and compatibility with hydrophilic additives, while the majority of the silicone backbone maintains its hydrophobic character for biocompatibility and low surface energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite polymer structure by combining silicone segments (for biocompatibility and low surface energy) with polyether segments (for hydrophilicity and fluid management) connected via oxamide or urea linkages. This composite material structure achieves multiple functions simultaneously: strong adhesion, stability of active agents, and compatibility with hydrophilic additives, eliminating the need for destructive curing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If on-web curing processes are used to form pressure-sensitive adhesives, then adhesion performance is improved, but the processing complexity and potential destruction of active ingredients increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhesion performanceVSAvoidcuring process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3052548B1Silicone-polyether copolymers, adhesives and medical articles comprising same, and methods of making same

Publication Date: 2021.12.01 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO

Figure 1~2

AI summary

Silicone-polyether copolymers, adhesives and medical articles comprising same, and methods of making same. The silicone-polyether copolymer composition can include a backbone composition having a first (silicone) segment and a second (polyether) segment connected randomly via at least one of an oxamide linkage and a urea linkage. The method of making the silicone-polyether copolymer composition can include combining: a) a first (silicone) precursor; b) a second (polyether) precursor; and c) at least one of a diisocyanate and an oxalate compound.