Silicone materials celebrate 60 years of use in medical applications. Quickly after their
commercial availability in 1946, methylchlorosilanes were described to treat glassware to
prevent blood from clotting [1]. At the same time, Dr. F. Lahey implanted a silicone
elastomer tube for duct repair in biliary surgery [2]. Since these pioneers, the interest for
silicones in medical applications has remained because of their recognized biocompatibility.
Silicones are used today in many life-saving medical devices like pacemakers or
hydrocephalic shunts [3]. Silicones are also used in many pharmaceutical applications from
process aids like tubing used to manufacture pharmaceuticals, to excipients in topical
formulations or adhesives to affix transdermal drug delivery systems [4]. They also have
found use as active pharmaceutical ingredients in products such as antacid and antiflatulent
formulations [5-6].