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A method of making a silicone rubber having a structure adapted for growth of cells or living tissue, which comprises contacting a silicone rubber precursor with a biologically-acceptable sacrificial filler, curing the resultant mixture and removing the sacrificial filler to form a structured silico

A method of making a silicone rubber having a structure adapted for growth of cells or living tissue, which comprises contacting a silicone rubber precursor with a biologically-acceptable sacrificial filler, curing the resultant mixture and removing the sacrificial filler to form a structured silicone rubber. The sacrificial filler is preferably an inorganic salt that has been ground, and the salt is selected from metal halides, metal carbonates and metal bicarbonates.

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1. A porous silicone rubber article having a structure adapted for growth of cells or living tissue obtained by a method comprisingmixing a biologically acceptable sacrificial filler with a silicone rubber precursor, curing the resultant mixture at a temperature below 180° C., and removing the sacri

1. A porous silicone rubber article having a structure adapted for growth of cells or living tissue obtained by a method comprisingmixing a biologically acceptable sacrificial filler with a silicone rubber precursor, curing the resultant mixture at a temperature below 180° C., and removing the sacrificial filler by dissolution to form a porous silicone rubber article, said sacrificial filler is an inorganic salt that has been ground, and said inorganic salt is selected from the group consisting of metal halides, metal carbonates and metal bicarbonates. 2. A biomedical device comprising a porous silicone rubber article as claimed in claim 1.3. A method of making a silicone rubber article having a structure adapted for growth of cells or living tissue, which comprises mixing a biologically acceptable sacrificial filler with a silicone rubber precursor, curing the resultant mixture at a temperature below 180° C., and removing the sacrificial filler by dissolution to form a porous silicone rubber, said sacrificial filler is an inorganic salt that has been ground, and said inorganic salt is selected from the group consisting of metal halides, metal carbonates and metal bicarbonates.4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the silicone rubber precursor can be cured or vulcanized at room temperature.5. A method as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the biologically-acceptable sacrificial filler is bio-compatible, such that it is innately non-toxic and does not leave a toxic residue.6. A method as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the sacrificial filler does not interact chemically with the silicone rubber precursor or with the resultant silicone rubber and is stable at temperatures used to cure the resultant mixture.7. A method as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the sacrificial filler is granular.8. A method as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the sacrificial filler is amorphous.9. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sacrificial filler is milled to a particle size of 0.01-10 μm.10. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sacrificial filler is milled in an organic solvent.11. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the inorganic salt is selected from the group consisting of lithium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, lithium chloride, sodium chloride and potassium chloride.12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sacrificial filler is sodium bicarbonate or sodium chloride.13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sodium bicarbonate or sodium chloride is wet-milled under xylene.14. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sacrificial filler is removed by dissolution.15. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sacrificial filler does not cause swelling of the silicone rubber when removed using an aqueous solvent.16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sacrificial filler is sodium bicarbonate.17. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein free ?OH groups of the silicone rubber are chemically modified, so as to enhance cell adherence.18. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the surface of the silicone rubber is charged by bombardment with electrons.19. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the silicone rubber precursor comprises at least one additive that is not removed with the sacrificial filler and serves to impart desired physical properties to the rubber.20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the additive is a metal powder or carbon black and serves to render the silicone rubber electrically conductive.21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the additive is stainless steel powder.22. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the additive is iron oxide.23. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the additive is an inert substance, and serves to render the silicone rubber mechanically rigid.24. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein a surface of the silicone rubber precursor is contacted with the sacrificial filler, so as to form a structured silicone rubber having a textured surface.25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the textured surface of the silicone rubber facilitates attachment of adherent cells.26. A method as claimed in claim 24 or 25, wherein the textured surface of the silicone rubber provides an increased number of sites for attachment of cells relative to an untextured surface.27. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein pores of the silicone rubber provide sites of attachment for cells.28. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the resultant mixture is shaped prior to curing.29. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein pores of the silicone rubber are 1 μm-0.5 mm in diameter.30. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the porous silicone rubber is cut to a desired size or shape.31. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the sacrificial filler is crystalline.32. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sacrificial filler is classified prior to contacting the silicone rubber precursor.33. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sacrificial filler is milled to a particle size of 0.05-1 μm.34. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sacrificial filler is milled to a particle size of 0.1-0.4 μm.35. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sacrificial filler is removed by dissolution in an aqueous solvent.36. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the additive is glass, and serves to render the silicone rubber mechanically rigid.37. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the resultant mixture is shaped prior to curing, by molding or extrusion.38. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the pores are 10 μm-0.2 mm in diameter.39. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the pores are 50 to 150 μm in diameter.