Contact lens with a hydrophilic layer
Embodiments of the technology relate to a contact lens having a core that is covalently coated by a hydrogel layer, and to methods of making such a lens. In one aspect, embodiments provide for a coated contact lens comprising a lens core comprising an outer surface; and a hydrogel layer covalently attached to at least a portion of the outer surface, the hydrogel layer adapted to contact an ophthalmic surface, wherein the hydrogel layer comprises a hydrophilic polymer population having a first PEG species and a second PEG species, the first PEG species being at least partially cross-linked to the second PEG species.
1. A coated contact lens comprising:
a lens core comprising an outer surface; and
a hydrogel layer covalently attached to at least a portion of the outer surface, the hydrogel layer adapted to contact an ophthalmic surface, wherein the hydrogel layer comprises a hydrophilic polymer population having a first PEG species and a second polymer species, the first PEG species being at least partially cross-linked to the second polymer species, wherein the first PEG species comprises a reactive electron pair accepting group and the second polymer species comprises a reactive nucleophilic group, the reactive electron pair accepting group and the reactive nucleophilic group adapted to react to thereby form cross-links between the first PEG species and the second polymer species.
2. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel layer and core are covalently attached at the outer surface by a sulfonyl moiety.
3. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel layer and core are covalently attached at the outer surface by a thioether moiety.
4. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel layer and core are covalently attached at the outer surface by a sulfonyl moiety and a thioether moiety.
5. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel layer substantially surrounds the outer surface of the core.
6. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel layer and core are substantially optically clear.
7. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel layer is adapted to allow optical transmission through the hydrogel layer to the ophthalmic surface.
8. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel layer comprises a thickness between about 50 nm to about 500 nm.
9. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel layer comprises a thickness below about 100 nm.
10. The lens of claim 1 , wherein each of the first PEG species and second polymer species is a branched species having a branch count between two to twelve branch arms.
11. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the reactive electron pair accepting group is a sulfone moiety.
12. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the reactive nucleophilic group is a thiol moiety.
13. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the reactive electron pair accepting group of the first PEG species is covalently linked to the outer surface of the core.
14. The lens of claim 1 , further comprising an advancing contact angle between about 20 degrees to about 50 degrees.
15. The lens of claim 1 , further comprising an advancing contact angle between about 25 degrees to about 35 degrees.
16. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel layer comprises between about 80% to about 98% water by weight.
17. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the core consists of silicone.
18. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises silicone.
19. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the core is substantially free of silicone.
20. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a hydrogel.
21. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel layer further comprises at least one active agent.
22. The lens of claim 21 , wherein the at least one active agent is selected from the group consisting of a UV-absorbing agent, a visibility tinting agent, an antimicrobial agent, a bioactive agent, a leachable lubricant, a leachable tear-stabilizing agent, or any mixture thereof.
23. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the second polymer species is polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polyacrylamide (PAM).
24. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel layer comprises a thickness between about 0.01 microns and about 0.05 microns.
25. A coated contact lens comprising:
a lens core comprising an outer surface; and
a hydrogel layer covalently attached to at least a portion of the outer surface, the hydrogel layer adapted to contact an ophthalmic surface, wherein the hydrogel layer comprises a hydrophilic polymer population having a first PEG species and a second polymer species the first PEG species being at least partially cross-linked to the second polymer species, wherein the first PEG species comprises a reactive sulfonyl group and the second polymer species comprises a reactive amine group, and the first PEG species and second polymer species are cross-linked by a sulfonamide covalent linkage between the first PEG species and the second polymer species.
26. The lens of claim 25 , wherein the hydrogel layer comprises a thickness below about 100 nm.
27. The lens of claim 25 , wherein the second polymer species is polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polyacrylamide (PAM).
28. The lens of claim 25 , wherein the hydrogel layer comprises a thickness between about 0.01 microns and about 0.05 microns.
29. The lens of claim 25 , wherein the hydrogel layer further comprises at least one active agent.
30. The lens of claim 25 , wherein the at least one active agent is selected from the group consisting of a UV-absorbing agent, a visibility tinting agent, an antimicrobial agent, a bioactive agent, a leachable lubricant, a leachable tear-stabilizing agent, or any mixture thereof.
31. The lens of claim 25 , wherein the core layer consists of silicone.
32. The lens of claim 25 , wherein the core layer comprises silicone.
33. The lens of claim 25 , wherein the core layer is substantially free of silicone.