Objective      To change the surface of silicone rubber by silver ion implantation technology in order to obtain an implantable silicone rubber with antibacterial property and good biocompatibility.       Methods      High-energy ion implantation machine was used for the silver ion implantation on the surface of silicone rubber. After then

the surface properties of 3 doses of silver ion implanted silicone rubber (3×10

15

1×10

16

and 3×10

16

ion/cm

2

) were analyzed

by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)

Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and water contact angle test for surface morphology

elemental composition

chemical structure and hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties. The antibacterial properties of these materials were conducted by bacterial inhibition ring test and antibacterial adhesion assay using E. coli. The biocompatibility was evaluated by in vitro and in vivo experiments.       Results       SEM indicated that there was no obvious difference in the surface morphology of silicone rubber with different doses or without silver ion implantation. XPS showed that the silver ions were injected in the surface of silicone rubber but the content of silver ions had no change with the different doses of silver implantation. FTIR indicated that there was no obvious change in organic functional groups on the surface of 4 kinds of silicone rubber. Ion implantation significant reduced water contact angle with the increase of silver doses

indicating a trend of hydrophobic property of silicone rubber. The bacterial inhibition ring test showed that the diameter of inhibition ring is over 7 mm in the silver ion implanted silicone rubber

showing antibacterial activity. The antibacterial adhesion assay indicated that the silver ion implanted silicone rubber have decreased bacterial adhesion. The in vitro and in vivo experiments suggested the silver ion implanted silicone rubber had good biocompatibility.        Conclusion      The silver ion implantation can achieve a new material with good surface properties and increased antibacterial property.