Ultrathin coating by plasma polymerization applied to corneal contact lens

Abstract

Plasma coating (deposition of polymer under the influence of plasma) is utilized to modify the surface properties of corneal contact lens. An ultrathin layer (thickness of roughly 200 A) of plasma polymer of acetylene/H20/N2 is applied to poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) corneal contact lenses. The surface becomes highly wettable with water compared to uncoated lens. When coated and uncoated contact lenses are placed on rabbit eyes, a remarkable difference in accumulation of mucous matter is observed. With the control lenses, the accumulation of mucous matter in a week is sufficient to affect the optical clarity of the lenses, whereas the coated lenses show no change after three months continuous wearing. The comparative degree of adhesion of the corneal epithelium cells onto glass, modified glass, PMMA, and coated PMMA surfaces is studied using tissue cultures and phase contrast microscopy. The coated PMMA surface exhibits a degree of tissue adhesion lower than that of control PMMA and higher than that of glass surface, and no sign of toxicity of the coated surface is observed by the tissue cultures.

Effect of C2H4/N2 Ratio in an Atmospheric Pressure Dielectric Barrier Discharge on the Plasma Deposition of Hydrogenated Amorphous Carbon-Nitride Films (a-C:N:H)

“…In 1975, Yasuda et al [21] used an N 2 /C 2 H 2 / H 2 O plasma polymerization process for a corneal contact lens application. Various glow discharge plasma polymers generated from the allylamine monomer have also generated much interest [14,[22][23][24][25][26].…”

Eco-, geno- and human toxicology of bio-active nanoparticles for biomedical applications

“…Therefore, also the polymer PDMAEMA was evaluated as an alternative polymer for gene delivery. This methacrylate polymer has excellent biocompatibility and is therefore an interesting alternative for biomedical purposes (Klomp et al, 1979;Ronel et al, 1983;Yasuda, 1975).…”

Contact Lenses

“…Surface modification of a contact lens can be grouped into physical and chemical types of treatment. Physical treatments include plasma treatments with water vapor (silicone lens) and oxygen (119) and plasma polymerization for which the material surface is exposed to the plasma in the presence of a reactive monomer (120). Surfaces are also altered with exposure to uv radiation (121) or bombardment with oxides of nitrogen (122).…”