The role of water in the molecular structure and properties of soft contact lenses and surface interactions

Abstract

The role played by water in the molecular structure and properties of commercial soft contact lenses (hydrogels) based on poly 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA) or poly vinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was investigated by means of vibrational spectroscopy and thermal analyses. The results of this study show that the materials having the greatest water percentage have elastic properties closer to those of the ocular tissues with which they come into contact. Water interacts by hydrogen bonding with the hydrophilic groups present in the polymers, and the strength of this interaction depends on the type of hydrophilic group involved. Moreover, in the case of PVP materials, water also modifies the conformation of the hydrophobic groups. The arrangement of surface water molecules can explain the different adhesion capability of Staphilococcus aureus on this type of lens depending on the water content. In connection with this, a simple model is presented. The water molecules present in the hydrogel structures completely exchange with those of the biological environment. A quantitative analytical method for evaluating the amount of water in commercial lenses by means of Raman spectroscopy is reported.