MONOMER SYSTEMS WITH DISPERSED SILICONE-BASED ENGINEERED PARTICLES

Provided are compositions containing engineered particles, and methods of making such engineered particles. Polymeric articles, such as contact lenses, prepared from such compositions are also provided. Such engineered particles are dispersible in hydrophilic systems such as monomer systems for preparation of contact lenses. Each of the engineered particles comprises a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic shell. The hydrophobic core comprises a silicone-based polymer that can have multiple cross-links and/or polymer-polymer entanglement, and the hydrophilic shell is formed from a reactive stabilizer. A residue of the reactive stabilizer or a hydrophilic segment of the reactive stabilizer can form the shell. The particles have an average particle size of less than about 500 nm.