Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Methyl Ether Methacrylate-Based Hydrogel and Cerium(IV) Oxide Nanoparticles as Ophthalmic Lens Material.

Min-Jae Lee,Seon-Young Park,A-Young Sung

doi:10.3390/mi12091111

Min-Jae Lee, Seon-Young Park + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/mi12091111

Copy DOI

Abstract

The functional hydrogel lens containing 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) was manufactured by thermal polymerization. The physical properties of the produced hydrogel lens were measured and analyzed. In this study, HEMA, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) were used for thermal copolymerization. Additionally, poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA), 3-(Triethoxysilyl) propyl isocyanate (TEPI), and cerium(Ⅳ) oxide nanoparticles were used as additives to make a functional hydrogel lens. The mixture was heated at 100 °C for 90 min to produce the hydrogel ophthalmic lens by the cast mold method. The resulting physical properties showed that the water content and refractive index of the sample were in the ranges of 38.06~42.11% and 1.426~1.436, respectively. The addition of cerium oxide nanoparticles lowered the contact angle and allowed the hydrogel lens to block UV light. The tensile strength was also improved by 52.13% through cerium oxide nanoparticles, and up to 123.4% by using TEPI. Based on the results of this study, the produced ophthalmic lens is suitable for durable, UV-blocking high-performance lenses.

Highlights

There has been a substantial development in the physical properties of ophthalmic lenses, as various polymers have begun to be used as materials in hydrogel lenses [1,2,3,4].After Otto Wichterle and Drahoslav of the Czechosloviakia National Polymer Institute developed a hydrophilic polymer, polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA), in 1955, contact lenses made of hydrophilic hydrogel became popular due to their favorable water content and comfort
The wettability of the hydrogel lens can be assessed from the contact angle between water and the lens surface, and the durability of the contact lens can be assessed through its tensile strength
The refractive index is a critical property that represents the optical characteristic of a material, and affects the refractive power of the hydrogel lens

Summary

Introduction

There has been a substantial development in the physical properties of ophthalmic lenses, as various polymers have begun to be used as materials in hydrogel lenses [1,2,3,4]. Various studies are ongoing on the further application of polymers as hydrophilic lens materials [5]. Despite such studies, some limitations have been found in the material properties. For hydrogel lenses, the refractive index is lower, and the durability decreases as the water content is increased [6]. As the tensile strength and the water content of the hydrogel lens are inversely proportional, the tensile strength and wettability are significant physical properties of contact lenses [7,8].

Methods

Results

Conclusion