Soft and elastic hollow microcapsules embedded silicone elastomer films with enhanced water uptake and permeability for mechanical stimuli responsive drug delivery applications.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film with significantly enhanced water permeability and uptake was prepared by incorporating spherical elastic hollow microcapsules (eHMCs) in it. eHMCs were prepared through O/W/O emulsification method. Water permeability and uptake of the film increased significantly in proportion to the amount of embedded eHMCs while minimizing the changes in elastic characteristics and transparency of PDMS. The release rate of loaded water soluble model drug from the eHMC-embedded PDMS film could be controlled by the magnitude of uniaxial mechanical stimulus applied over the film and initial drug loading amount, with negligible release of drug from the film in the absence of external stimulation. Thus, these biocompatible and elastic composite PDMS films are potentially useful, including as an easily accessible and instantly effective way of controlling hydrophilic drug release using the mechanical stimulus as well as a soft elastomer with enhanced water uptake and permeability.