Cross border integration of silicone oil and biomaterials: from medical beauty fillers to the "liquid life" of artificial cornea

Traditional medical beauty fillers often suffer from complications due to the mismatch between material degradation rate and tissue regeneration, while silicone oil modification technology provides a new solution to this problem. By introducing polyethylene glycol (PEG) segments, scientists have developed silicone oil PEG copolymers that can regulate degradation rates. The degradation products can be metabolized by the human body into carbon dioxide and water, avoiding the risk of long-term retention. In the field of ophthalmology, silicone oil has become a "messenger of light": for patients with severe corneal damage, the "artificial corneal scaffold" formed by the combination of silicone oil and collagen can simulate the transparency and mechanical properties of natural cornea. Within 3 months after implantation, it can induce host cells to crawl and grow, ultimately forming a transparent structure no different from the native cornea. In more cutting-edge research, the 3D printing technology of silicone oil and sodium alginate has successfully constructed a corneal model with a vascular network, providing a revolutionary solution to the shortage of corneal transplant donors.