Optical application of poly(HEMA-co-MMA) containing silver nanoparticles and N,N-dimethylacrylamide

High functional ophthalmic lens materials, poly(HEMA- co -MMA)s, were prepared by the copolymerization of HEMA, MMA, NVP, EDGMA, and N,N-dimethylacrylamide in the presence of silver nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles have antimicrobial properties and a hydrophilic monomer N,N-dimethylacrylamide has excellent biocompatibility and oxygen transmissibility. The water content was in the range of 36.63–44.45%, indicating the characteristics of general water-content contact lenses, and the refractive index was measured to be in the range of 1.423–1.435. Meanwhile, the oxygen transmissibility ranged from 10.63×10 −11 to 18.85×10 −11 (cm 2 /sec)(mlO 2 /ml×mmHg) increasing with increasing the addition ratio of N,N-dimethylacrylamide. The polymeric materials satisfied the basic characteristics required for ophthalmic contact lenses. The polymers can be used to fabricate antimicrobial hydrogel contact lenses with high oxygen transmissibility.