Chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinkers with dangling hydrophilic polymer chains

1. A soluble amphiphilic prepolymer, which is obtained by:

first polymerizing a polymerizable composition including

(1) at least one chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinker,

(2) at least one hydrophilic vinylic monomer,

(3) a chain transfer agent with or without a first reactive functional group other than a thiol group and/or a vinylic monomer having a second reactive functional group other than an ethylenically unsaturated group,

(4) optionally a hydrophobic vinylic monomer, and

(5) optionally a polymerizable UV-absorbing agent, to form an intermediary copolymer; and

then ethylenically functionalizing the intermediary copolymer with an ethylenically functionalizing vinylic monomer having a third reactive functional group capable of reacting with the first or second reactive functional group to form a linkage in a coupling reaction in the presence or absence of a coupling agent to form the prepolymer, wherein the first, second and third reactive functional groups independent of each other are selected from the group consisting of amino group, hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, acid halide group, azlactone group, isocyanate group, epoxy group, aziridine group, and combination thereof

wherein the linear chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinker comprises (a) two terminal ethylenically unsaturated groups, (b) at least two polysiloxane segments, and (c) at least one dangling hydrophilic polymer chain covalently attached to a divalent organic radical separating said at least two polysiloxane segments, wherein the linear chain extended polysiloxane crosslinker is as set forth by formula (I)

in which

D 0 , D 1 , D 2 and D 3 independently of one another are a divalent group of formula (II)

in which G 5 is as defined below, A 1 , A 2 A 3 , and A 4 independent of one another are a direct bond, a linear or branched C 1 -C 10 alkylene divalent radical, —(CH(R″)CH 2 O) r1 —CH(R″)CH 2 — in which R″ is H or methyl and r1 is an integer of 1 to 20, or a C 1 -C 7 alkyleneoxy C 1 -C 7 alkylene divalent radical, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 1 ′, R 2 ′, R 3 ′, R 4 ′, R 5 ′, R 6 ′, R 7 ′, and R 8 ′ independently of one another are C 1 -C 8 -alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkyl-substituted phenyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy-substituted phenyl, fluoro(C 1 -C 18 -alkyl), or -alk-(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n —OR 9 in which “alk” is C 1 -C 6 -alkylene divalent radical, R 9 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl and n is an integer from 1 to 20, a1 is an integer of 0 to 8, m1 and p1 independently of each other are an integer of from 0 to 150, (m1+p1) is from 2 to 150, m2 and p2 independent of each other are an integer of from 0 to 150 and (m2+p2) is from 2 to 150 if a1 is not zero;

e1, e2, t1, t2, and t3 independent of one another are an integer of 0 or 1;

υ1, υ2 and υ3 independent of one another are an integer of from 0 to 5 provided that (υ1+υ2+υ3)≧1;

ω1, ω2 and ω3 independent of one another are an integer of from 0 to 20 provided that (ω1+ω2+ω3) is an integer of 1 to 20;

L 1 , L 2 and L 3 independent of one another is a direct bond,

in which R 12 is hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

L 1 ′, L 2 ′ and L 3 ′ independent of one another is a direct bond or

in which R 12 is as defined above, Y is —O— or —NR′— in which R′ is hydrogen or C 1 -C 8 alkyl, and Y is linked to T 1 , T 2 or T 3 ;

G 0 , G 1 , G 1 ′, G 1 ″, G 2 , G 2 ′, G 2 ″, G 3 , G 3 ′, G 3 ″, G 4 , and G 5 independent of one another are a direct bond or a divalent radical of —Z 1 —X 1 —Z 2 —X 2 —Z 3 —X 3 —Z 4 —, in which X 1 , X 2 , and X 3 independent of one another are a linkage selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, —O—, —NR′—, —C(O)—NR′—, —NR′—C(O)—, —O—C(O)—NH—, —NH—C(O)—O—, —NR′—C(O)—NH—, —NH—C(O)—NR′—, —S—, —C(O)—O—, —O—C(O)—, —NH—C(O)—NH—Z 0 —NH—C(O)—NH—, —O—C(O)—NH—Z 0 —NH—C(O)—O—, —O—C(O)—NH—Z 0 —NH—C(O)—NH—, and —NH—C(O)—NH—Z 0 —NH—C(O)—O—, Z 0 is a linear or branched C 2 -C 12 alkylene divalent radical or a C 5 -C 45 cycloaliphatic or aliphatic-cycloaliphatic divalent radical optionally containing therein one or more linkages of —O—, —NR′—, —S— and —C(O)—, R′ is H or C 1 -C 0 alkyl, Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 , and Z 4 independent of one another are a direct bond, a linear or branched C 1 -C 18 alkylene divalent radical optionally containing therein one or more linkages of —O—, —NR′—, —S— and —C(O)—, a C 1 -C 7 alkyleneoxy C 1 -C 7 alkylene divalent radical, a divalent radical of —(CH(R″)CH 2 O) r1 —CH(R″)CH 2 — in which R″ and r1 are as defined above, an unsubstituted phenylene divalent radical, C 1 -C 4 alkyl substituted phenylene divalent radical, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy substituted phenylene divalent radical, a C 5 -C 45 cycloaliphatic or aliphatic-cycloaliphatic divalent radical optionally containing therein one or more linkages of —O—, —NR′—, —S— and —C(O)—, a C 6 -C 24 aromatic or araliphatic divalent radical, or combinations thereof;

R 10 and R 11 independent of each other are hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

is a linear or 3-arm hydrophilic polymer chain that comprises at least about 60% by weight of one or more hydrophilic monomeric units; and

T 1 , T 2 and T 3 independent of one another are a linear or branched C 2 -C 24 aliphatic trivalent radical, a C 5 -C 30 cycloaliphatic or aliphatic-cycloaliphatic trivalent radical, a C 4 -C 30 aliphatic-heterocyclic trivalent radical including one or more oxygen or nitrogen atoms, or a C 3 -C 24 aromatic or araliphatic trivalent radical.

2. The prepolymer of claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable composition comprises the polymerizable UV-absorbing agent.

3. An ophthalmic lens, comprising a silicone hydrogel material that is obtained by curing, in a mold, a lens-forming composition including a linear chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinker comprising (a) two terminal ethylenically unsaturated groups, (b) at least two polysiloxane segments, and (c) at least one dangling hydrophilic polymer chain covalently attached to a divalent organic radical separating said at least two polysiloxane segments, wherein the linear chain extended polysiloxane crosslinker is as set forth by formula (I)

in which

D 0 , D 1 , D 2 and D 3 independently of one another are a divalent group of formula (II)

in which G 5 is as defined below, A 1 , A 2 A 3 , and A 4 independent of one another are a direct bond, a linear or branched C 1 -C 10 alkylene divalent radical, —(CH(R″)CH 2 O) r1 —CH(R″)CH 2 — in which R″ is H or methyl and r1 is an integer of 1 to 20, or a C 1 -C 7 alkyleneoxy C 1 -C 7 alkylene divalent radical, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 1 ′, R 2 ′, R 3 ′, R 4 ′, R 5 ′, R 6 ′, R 7 ′, and R 8 ′ independent of one another are C 1 -C 8 -alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkyl-substituted phenyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy-substituted phenyl, fluoro(C 1 -C 18 -alkyl), or -alk-(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n —OR 9 in which “alk” is C 1 -C 6 -alkylene divalent radical, R 9 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl and n is an integer from 1 to 20, a1 is an integer of 0 to 8, ml and p1 independently of each other are an integer of from 0 to 150, (m1+p1) is from 2 to 150, m2 and p2 independent of each other are an integer of from 0 to 150 and (m2+p2) is from 2 to 150 if a1 is not zero;

e1, e2, t1, t2, and t3 independent of one another are an integer of 0 or 1;

υ1, υ2 and υ3 independent of one another are an integer of from 0 to 5 provided that (υ1+υ2+υ3)≧1;

ω1, ω2 and ω3 independent of one another are an integer of from 0 to 20 provided that (ω1+ω2+ω3) is an integer of 1 to 20;

L 1 , L 2 and L 3 independent of one another is a direct bond,

in which R 12 is hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

L 1 ′, L 2 ′ and L 3 ′ independent of one another is a direct bond or

in which R 12 is as defined above, Y is —O— or —NR′— in which R′ is hydrogen or C 1 -C 8 alkyl, and Y is linked to T 1 , T 2 or T 3 ;

G 0 , G 1 , G 1 ′, G 1 ″, G 2 , G 2 ′, G 2 ″, G 3 , G 3 ′, G 3 ″, G 4 , and G 5 independent of one another are a direct bond or a divalent radical of —Z 1 —X 1 —Z 2 —X 2 —Z 3 —X 3 —Z 4 —, in which X 1 , X 2 , and X 3 independent of one another are a linkage selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, —O—, —NR′—, —C(O)—NR′—, —NR′—C(O)—, —O—C(O)—NH—, —NH—C(O)—O—, —NR′—C(O)—NH—, —NH—C(O)—NR′—, —S—, —C(O)—O—, —O—C(O)—, —NH—C(O)—NH—Z 0 NH—C(O)—NH—, —O—C(O)—NH—Z 0 —NH—C(O)—O—, —O—C(O)—NH—Z 0 —NH—C(O)—NH—, and —NH—C(O)—NH—Z 0 —NH—C(O)—O—, Z 0 is a linear or branched C 2 -C 12 alkylene divalent radical or a C 5 -C 45 cycloaliphatic or aliphatic-cycloaliphatic divalent radical optionally containing therein one or more linkages of —O—, —NR′—, —S— and —C(O)—, R′ is H or C 1 -C 8 alkyl, Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 , and Z 4 independent of one another are a direct bond, a linear or branched C 1 -C 18 alkylene divalent radical optionally containing therein one or more linkages of —O—, —NR′—, —S— and —C(O)—, a C 1 -C 7 alkyleneoxy C 1 -C 7 alkylene divalent radical, a divalent radical of —(CH(R″)CH 2 O) r1 —CH(R″)CH 2 — in which R″ and r1 are as defined above, an unsubstituted phenylene divalent radical, C 1 -C 4 alkyl substituted phenylene divalent radical, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy substituted phenylene divalent radical, a C 5 -C 45 cycloaliphatic or aliphatic-cycloaliphatic divalent radical optionally containing therein one or more linkages of —O—, —NR′—, —S— and —C(O)—, a C 6 -C 24 aromatic or araliphatic divalent radical, or combinations thereof;

R 10 and R 11 independent of each other are hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

is a linear or 3-arm hydrophilic polymer chain that comprises at least about 60% by weight of one or more hydrophilic monomeric units; and

T 1 , T 2 and T 3 independent of one another are a linear or branched C 2 -C 24 aliphatic trivalent radical, a C 5 -C 30 cycloaliphatic or aliphatic-cycloaliphatic trivalent radical, a C 4 -C 30 aliphatic-heterocyclic trivalent radical including one or more oxygen or nitrogen atoms, or a C 3 -C 24 aromatic or araliphatic trivalent radical,

wherein the lens-forming composition further comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic vinylic monomer, a hydrophobic vinylic monomer, a polysiloxane-containing vinylic monomer, a polysiloxane-containing vinylic macromer, a crosslinking agent having a molecular weight of less than 700 Daltons, a polymerizable UV-absorbing agent, a visibility tinting agent, an antimicrobial agent, a bioactive agent, a leachable lubricant, a leachable tear-stabilizing agent, and mixtures thereof, wherein the ophthalmic lens has at least one property selected from the group consisting of: an oxygen permeability of at least about 40 barrers; an elastic modulus of from about 0.1 MPa to about 2.0 MPa; an lonoflux Diffusion Coefficient, D, of, at least about 1.0×10 −5 mm 2 /min; a water content of from about 15% to about 55% by weight when fully hydrated; and combinations thereof.

4. An ophthalmic lens, comprising a silicone hydrogel material that is obtained by curing a lens-forming composition including a soluble amphiphilic prepolymer of claim 1 in a mold, wherein the lens-forming composition further comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic vinylic monomer, a hydrophobic vinylic monomer, a polysiloxane-containing vinylic monomer, a polysiloxane-containing vinylic macromer, a crosslinking agent having a molecular weight of less than 700 Daltons, a polymerizable UV-absorbing agent, a visibility tinting agent, an antimicrobial agent, a bioactive agent, a leachable lubricant, a leachable tear-stabilizing agent, and mixtures thereof, wherein the ophthalmic lens has at least one property selected from the group consisting of: an oxygen permeability of at least about 40 barrers; an elastic modulus of from about 0.1 MPa to about 2.0 MPa; an lonoflux Diffusion Coefficient, D, of at least about 1.0×10 −5 mm 2 /min; a water content of from about 15% to about 55% by weight when fully hydrated; and combinations thereof.

5. An ophthalmic lens, comprising a silicone hydrogel material that is obtained by curing a lens-forming composition including a soluble amphiphilic prepolymer of claim 2 in a mold, wherein the lens-forming composition further comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic vinylic monomer, a hydrophobic vinylic monomer, a polysiloxane-containing vinylic monomer, a polysiloxane-containing vinylic macromer, a crosslinking agent having a molecular weight of less than 700 Daltons, a polymerizable UV-absorbing agent, a visibility tinting agent, an antimicrobial agent, a bioactive agent, a leachable lubricant, a leachable tear-stabilizing agent, and mixtures thereof, wherein the ophthalmic lens has at least one property selected from the group consisting of: an oxygen permeability of at least about 40 barrers; an elastic modulus of from about 0.1 MPa to about 2.0 MPa; an lonoflux Diffusion Coefficient, D, of at least about 1.0×10 −5 mm 2 /min; a water content of from about 15% to about 55% by weight when fully hydrated; and combinations thereof.