Biocompatible inks, preparation, and uses thereof
View Patent ↗An aqueous ink comprising containing a colorant and a radiation-curable oligomer or polymer containing H-active groups bonded to the oligomer or polymer backbone, some or all of whose hydrogen atoms have been substituted by radicals of a N-hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylamide. Methods for printing the inventive inks upon medical devices, such as contact lenses, are also disclosed.
1. An ink comprising
a. water;
b. at least one colorant including pigment particles;
c. ink binders including an acrylate-modified poly(vinyl alcohol) and a radiation-curable (meth)acrylamidoalkyl derivative of an oligomer or polymer containing a plurality of H-active groups;
wherein the radiation-curable (meth)acrylamidoalkyl derivative is added in the ink in an amount sufficient to provide the ink a desired viscosity for ink-jet printing or pad-printing while still being able to hold together and properly bind the ink to an ophthalmic lens onto which the ink is applied.
2. An ink as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said H-active groups are selected from the group consisting of —NH 2 groups and —OH groups.
3. An ink as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said (meth)acrylamidoalkyl derivative is obtained by substituting at least one hydrogen atom in H-active groups of the oligomer or polymer with radicals of a N-hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylamide of the structure
wherein R 1 is methyl or —H; R 2 is —[(CH 2 ) x —O—] y —H, where x is 1,2, or 3 and y is 1-5.
4. An ink as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the N-hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylamide is selected from the group consisting of N-2-hydroxylethyl acrylamide, N-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylamide, N-methylol acrylamide, and N-methylol methacrylamide.
5. An ink as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, polysaccharide derivatives, poly(ethylene glycol), poly(propylene oxide), PEG-block-PPO, poly(acrylamide), and copolymers thereof.
6. An ink as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of dextran, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, and polysaccharides comprising glucose monosaccharide units.
7. An ink as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said polymer is dextran and said N-hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylamide is N-methylol acrylamide.
8. An ink as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said (meth)acrylamidoalkyl derivative is obtained by substituting at least one hydrogen atom in H-active groups of the oligomer or polymer with radicals of a N-hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylamide of the structure
wherein R 1 is methyl or —H; R 2 is —[(CH 2 ) x —O—]—H, where x is 1,2, or 3 and y is 1-5.
9. An ink as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the N-hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylamide is selected from the group consisting of N-2-hydroxylethyl acrylamide, N-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylamide, N-methylol acrylamide, and N-methylol methacrylamide.
10. An ink as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, polysaccharide derivatives, poly(ethylene glycol), poly(propylene oxide), PEG-block-PPO, poly(acrylamide), and copolymers thereof.
11. An ink as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of dextran, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, and polysaccharides comprising glucose monosaccharide units.
12. An ink as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said polymer is dextran and said N-hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylamide is N-methylol acrylamide.
13. An ink as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said polymer is dextran and said N-hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylamide is N-methylol acrylamide.