Breast Implants Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Breast Implants, including details on silicone implant, breast augmentation, surgery, risks.

Platinum in silicone breast implants.

Brook MA

Department of Chemistry, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street W., Hamilton, Ont., Canada L8S 4M1. mabrook@mcmaster.ca

Silicone elastomers are widely used in implantable devices, including silicone breast implants. These rubbers are generally formed/cured using platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation. The current scientific literature on the chemistry of platinum is reviewed, as it applies to the use of platinum catalysts for cure of silicone elastomers destined for use in silicone breast implants. These discussions serve as a basis to examine the recent literature describing release of platinum into tissues adjacent to silicone breast implants, the chemical nature of the platinum present in breast implants and the possible association between platinum and clinical outcomes.

Published 13 March 2006 in Biomaterials, 27(17): 3274-86.
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