Preparation and Analysis of Functional Silicone Hydrogel Lenses Containing ZrO₂ and Antimony Tin Oxide Nanoparticles.

This study prepared silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lenses using 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), synthesized silicone monomer (SID), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide (HEA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (a crosslinking agent, EGDMA), and azobisisobutyronitrile (an initiator, AIBN). Also, Zirconium oxide (ZrO₂), antimony tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles were added to the silicone hydrogel material to analyze the characteristics of the nanoparticles. The mixture was heated at 130 °C for 2 hours to produce the ophthalmic contact lens by cast mould method. As a result, the manufactured silicone hydrogel lens was prepared having high oxygen permeability and tensile strength while satisfying the basic requirements of ophthalmic hydrogel lens materials. Also, the addition of ZrO₂ NPs increased tensile strength of the manufactured lens, and ATO NPs were found to improve wettability. Therefore, ZrO₂ and ATO nanoparticles can be used effectively as additives for functional ophthalmic silicone hydrogel lenses.