Amphiphilic co-networks, films made from amphiphilic co-networks and uses for such co-networks and films

摘要

The present invention relates to the production of amphiphilic copolymer networks or co-networks that are both hydrophobic and hydrophilic, the copolymer networks comprise polyalkylene glycol segments and disubstituted polysiloxane segments. Furthermore, the present invention relates to products and/or films made from the amphiphilic copolymer networks or co-networks produced in accordance with the synthesis methods of the present invention. In one embodiment, amphiphilic networks or co-networks are synthesized using functional multiblock co-polymers according to the formula (AY)_x(BY)_y, where A represents an alkylene glycol polymer having n repeating alkylene glycol units, B represents a disubstituted siloxane polymer having m repeating siloxane units, and Y represents a molecule (e.g., a silane) that functions both as a chain extender and a crosslinker.