Copolymerization of Acrylic Monomers and Silane Group Containing Titanium Carbide Nanoparticles for Application to Ophthalmic Lens Materials

This research was conducted to synthesis and application for high oxygen permeable ophthalmic lens materials. 2-(Trimethylsiloxy)ethyl methacrylate (2T), 3-[Tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl]propyl methacrylate (3T), [(1,1-Dimethyl-2-propynyl)oxy]trimethylsilane (TMS), Poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA), N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) and titanium carbide nanoparticles were used as additives for the basic combination of synthesized silicone monomer (SiD) and N,N-Dimethylacetamide (DMA). And also, the materials were copolymerized with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linking agent, azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator. The copolymerization with a small amount of silane of about 1% increased the oxygen permeability to 30.3˜33.52(cm 2 /sec)·(mlO 2 /ml·mm Hg)·10 −11 , and in particular, the addition of titanium carbide nanoparticles was found to increase to 46.38 (cm 2 /sec)·(ml O 2 /ml·mm Hg)·10 −11 . Surface modification was possible with various wetting agents. Especially, simultaneous use with titanium carbide nanoparticles increased the wettability while maintaining water content. These materials are considered to make synergy effect each other, so it can be used in functional hydrogel ophthalmic lenses.