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Abstract

The invention provides novel organic polymer hydrogels comprising oligo(polyhydroxylalkyl)silylmethacrylate, particularly tetraethylene glycol .alpha.-.omega. bis(dimethoxysilylpropylmethacrylate), crosslinkers for use in constructing organic polymers, especially polyacrylates, particularly polyacrylamides. A preferred class of polymers are particularly suited to coating biomedical electrodes and sensors. Generally, these polymers are formed from a solution of 2-50% (w/v) monomer and 0.1-20% (w/v) crosslinker and 20-98% (w/v) an electrically conductive solution of a salt in water or a water-miscible solvent. These usually acrylic polymers generally have bulk resistivity of less than 1000 Ohms at 1 kHz, tack of between 20 and 150 g, hardness between 100 g and 500 g, 10 to 70% stress relaxation, thermal stability over a -40.degree. to 70.degree. C. range, structural stability to saturating salt concentrations, and are capable of between 150 and 1500% elongation. Coatings of these polymers are chemically compatible with Al, Sn, Ag and Au conductors in biomedical electrodes and sensors.

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