?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Reinforced+hydrogels+for+silicone+copolymer+delivery+for+scar+remediation&rft.creator=Radi%2C+Babak&rft.subject=scar+remediation%2C+reinforced+hydrogels%2C+silicone+copolymer+delivery&rft.description=Hypertrophic+scars+are+formed+by+collagen+overproduction+in+wounded+areas+and+often+occur+in+victims+of+severe+burns.+There+are+several+methods+for+hypertrophic+scar+remediation+and+silicone+gel+therapy+is+one+of+the+more+successful+methods.+Research+by+others+has+shown+that+the+activity+of+these+gels+may+be+due+to+migration+of+amphiphilic+silicone+oligomers+from+the+gel+and+into+the+dermis%2C+down-regulating+production+of+collagen+by+fibroblasts.+Normal+silicone+oil+(PDMS)+does+not+produce+the+same+effect+on+fibroblasts.+The+main+purpose+of+this+project+is+the+introduction+of+a+particular+amphiphilic+silicone+rake+copolymer+into+an+appropriate+network+which+can+absorb+and+release+the+silicone+copolymer+on+the+scarred+area.+Hydrogels+are+polymeric+crosslinked+networks+which+can+swell+in+water+or+a+drug+solution%2C+and+gradually+release+the+drug+when+applied+to+the+skin.+The+application+of+gel+enhances+the+effectiveness+of+the+therapy%2C+reduces+the+period+of+treatment+and+can+be+comfortable+for+patients+to+use.+Polyethylene+glycol+(PEG)+based+networks+have+been+applied+in+this+research%2C+because+the+amphiphilic+silicone+rake+copolymer+to+be+used+as+a+therapy+has+polyethylene+oxide+(PEO)+as+a+side+chain.+These+PEO+side+chains+have+very+similar+chemical+structure+to+a+PEG+gel+chain+so+enhancing+both+the+compatibility+and+the+diffusion+of+the+amphiphilic+silicone+rake+copolymer+into+and+out+of+the+gel.+Synthesis+of+PEG-based+networks+has+been+performed+by+two+methods%3A+in+situ+silsesquioxane+formation+as+crosslink+with+a+sol-gel+reaction+under+different+conditions+and+UV+curing.+PEG+networks+have+low+mechanical+properties+which+is+a+fundamental+limitation+of+the+polymer+backbone.+For+mechanical+properties+enhancement%2C+composite+networks+were+synthesized+using+nano-silica+with+different+surface+modification.+The+chemical+structure+of+in+situ+silsesquioxane+in+the+dry+network+has+been+examined+by+Solid+State+NMR%2C+Differential+Scanning+Calorimetry+(DSC)+and+swelling+measurements+in+water.+Mechanical+properties+of+dry+networks+were+tested+by+Dynamic+Mechanical+Thermal+Analysis+(DMTA)+to+determine+modulus+and+interfacial+interaction+between+silica+and+the+network.+In+this+way+a+family+of+self-reinforced+networks+has+been+produced+that+have+been+shown+to+absorb+and+deliver+the+active+amphiphilic+silicone-+PEO+rake+copolymer.&rft.publisher=Queensland+University+of+Technology&rft.date=2010&rft.type=Thesis&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.relation=https%3A%2F%2Feprints.qut.edu.au%2F40984%2F1%2FBabak_Radi_Thesis.pdf&rft.rights=free_to_read&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.relation=https%3A%2F%2Feprints.qut.edu.au%2F40984%2F2%2FBabak_Radi_Citation.pdf&rft.relation=Radi%2C+Babak+(2010)+Reinforced+hydrogels+for+silicone+copolymer+delivery+for+scar+remediation.+PhD+thesis%2C+Queensland+University+of+Technology.&rft.id_number=https%3A%2F%2Feprints.qut.edu.au%2F40984%2F&rft.identifier=Faculty+of+Science+and+Technology%3B+Institute+of+Health+and+Biomedical+Innovation