Effect of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles on Silicone-Acrylate Copolymer Containing 1,3-Bis(3-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane

Abstract

The silicone monomer used in this study contains acrylate group to prepare the hydrophilic polymer. For the polymerization, TMDS (1,3-Bis(3-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane) was added to the mixture containing synthesized silicone, DMA (N,N-dimethyl acrylamide), HEMA (2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate), EGDMA (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) and the initiator AIBN (azobisisobutyronitrile) with various concentrations. To make the functional hydrogel lens, metal oxide (Chromium oxide and Cobalt iron oxide) nanoparticles were used as additives. Using the polymer produced through the thermal polymerization process, the optical and physical characteristics of produced silicone hydrogel lenses were measured. The water content of sample was in the range of 63.70~69.08%, refractive index 1.3769~1.3880, contact angle 60.02~85.28°, and oxygen permeability (Dk) 24.79~37.92 × 10−11 (cm2/sec) (mlO2/mlmmHg). In case of the hydrogel sample with nanoparticles, the oxygen permeability value was increased with amount of nanoparticles. Silicone hydrogel monomer containing metal oxide nanoparticles were expected to be used usefully as a material for green tinted optical lens with high oxygen permeability.