IP Library Granted Patent US 12,631,791
Granted Patent B2
US 12,631,791 · App. 18/101,318 · Granted May 19, 2026

Multifunctional crosslinking agents and ophthalmic devices formed therefrom

Inventors: Alok Kumar Awasthi (Pittsford, NY); Feng-Yang Shih (Rochester, NY); Mohammad Vatankhah Varnosfaderani (Rochester, NY); James Anthony DiBella, Jr. (Macedon, NY); Mark R. Mis (Rush, NY); Jade J. Russell (Perry, NY)
Assignee: BAUSCH + LOMB IRELAND LIMITED
G02B1/043G02C7/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,631,791
App. No.
18/101,318
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A multifunctional crosslinking agent includes one or more repeating units of a siloxanyl group or a silyl-alkyl-siloxanyl group, and at least two ethylenically unsaturated reactive end groups. One of the at least two ethylenically unsaturated reactive end groups is a (meth)acrylate-containing reactive end group or an acrylamide-containing reactive end group and the other one is an allyl-containing reactive end group or a vinyl-containing reactive end group. Ophthalmic devices are formed from a polymerization product of a monomeric mixture containing one or more of the multifunctional crosslinking agents, one or more first ophthalmic device-forming comonomers having at least one reactive group that preferentially reacts with the (meth)acrylate-containing reactive end group or the acrylamide-containing reactive end group of the multifunctional crosslinking agent, and one or more second ophthalmic device-forming comonomers having at least one reactive group that preferentially reacts with the allyl-containing reactive end group or the vinyl-containing reactive end group of the multifunctional crosslinking agent.

Claims (50)

1 . An ophthalmic device which is a polymerization product of a monomeric mixture comprising:

(a) one or more multifunctional crosslinking agents comprising one or more repeating units of a siloxanyl group or a silyl-alkyl-siloxanyl group, and at least two ethylenically unsaturated reactive end groups, wherein one of the at least two ethylenically unsaturated reactive end groups is a (meth) acrylate-containing reactive end group or an acrylamide-containing reactive end group and the other one of the at least two ethylenically unsaturated reactive end groups is an allyl-containing reactive end group;

(b) one or more first ophthalmic device-forming comonomers having at least one reactive group that preferentially reacts with the (meth) acrylate-containing reactive end group or the acrylamide-containing reactive end group of the multifunctional crosslinking agent, wherein the one or more first ophthalmic device-forming comonomers comprise one or more silicone-containing comonomers represented by a structure of Formula I:

wherein V is an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group, L is a linker group or a bond; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , and R 9 are independently H, a C 1 to C 12 alkyl group, a halo alkyl group, a C 3 to C 12 cycloalkyl group, a heterocycloalkyl group, a C 2 to C 12 alkenyl group, a haloalkenyl group, or a C 6 to C 12 aromatic group; R 10 and R 11 are independently H or a C 1 to C 12 alkyl group, wherein at least one of R 10 and R 11 is hydrogen; y is 2 to 7 and n is 1 to 100; and

(c) one or more second ophthalmic device-forming comonomers having at least one reactive group that preferentially reacts with the allyl-containing reactive end group of the multifunctional crosslinking agent.

2 . The ophthalmic device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more multifunctional crosslinking agents comprise from 3 to about 300 repeating units of the siloxanyl group.

3 . The ophthalmic device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more multifunctional crosslinking agents comprise one or more repeating units of the siloxanyl group represented by the following structure:

wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently hydrogen, a C 1 to C 12 alkyl group, a halo alkyl group, a C 3 to C 12 cycloalkyl group, a C 3 to C 12 heterocycloalkyl group, a C 2 to C 12 alkenyl group, a haloalkenyl group, or a C 6 to C 12 aromatic group and y is from 3 to about 300.

4 . The ophthalmic device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more multifunctional crosslinking agents comprise 1 to about 100 repeating units of the silyl-alkyl-siloxanyl group, and the alkyl group of the silyl-alkyl-siloxanyl group has from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms.

5 . The ophthalmic device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more multifunctional crosslinking agents comprise one or more repeating units of the silyl-alkyl-siloxanyl group represented by the following structure:

wherein R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , and R 8 are independently hydrogen, a C 1 to C 12 alkyl group, a halo alkyl group, a C 3 to C 12 cycloalkyl group, a C 3 to C 12 heterocycloalkyl group, a C 2 to C 12 alkenyl group, a haloalkenyl group, or a C 6 to C 12 aromatic group; a is from 2 to 4 and x is from 1 to about 100.

6 . The ophthalmic device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more first ophthalmic device-forming comonomers further comprise one or more additional silicone-containing comonomers.

7 . The ophthalmic device according to claim 6 , wherein the one or more additional silicone-containing comonomers are selected from the group consisting of a silicone-containing comonomer represented by a structure of Formula II:

wherein R 12 is H or methyl; X is O or NR 16 ; wherein R 16 is selected from H, or a C 1 to C 4 alkyl group, optionally substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups; R 13 is a divalent alkyl group, optionally functionalized with a group selected from the group consisting of an ether group, a hydroxyl group, a carbamate group and combinations thereof; each R 14 is independently a phenyl group or a C 1 to C 4 alkyl group, optionally substituted with fluorine, a hydroxyl group or an ether group; R 15 is a C 1 to C 4 alkyl group; and a is 2 to 50, a polysiloxane prepolymer represented by a structure of Formula III:

wherein each V is an independently reactive functional end group; R 17 to R 22 are independently a straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 30 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 30 cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 4 -C 30 cycloalkylalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 30 cycloalkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 6 -C 30 aryl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C 7 -C 30 arylalkyl group, and L is independently a linking group; and x is 37, a silicone-containing comonomer represented by a structure of Formula IV:

wherein X denotes —O— or —NR 19 —, wherein R 19 is hydrogen or a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group; R 17 denotes hydrogen or methyl; each R 18 independently denotes a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, a phenyl group or a group represented by:

wherein each R 18′ independently denotes a C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or a phenyl radical; and h is 1 to 10, and a silicone-containing comonomer represented by a structure of Formula V:

wherein X denotes —NR 19 —, wherein R 19 denotes hydrogen or a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group; R 17 denotes hydrogen or methyl; each R 18 independently denotes a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, a phenyl group or a group represented by:

wherein each R 18′ independently denotes a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, or a phenyl group; and h is 1 to 10.

8 . The ophthalmic device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more second ophthalmic device-forming comonomers comprise one or more hydrophilic comonomers.

9 . The ophthalmic device according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more hydrophilic comonomers are selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic vinyl monomer, an acrylamide and mixtures thereof.

10 . The ophthalmic device according to claim 1 , wherein the monomeric mixture comprises:

about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, based on the total weight of the monomeric mixture, of the one or more multifunctional crosslinking agents;

about 1 wt. % to about 80 wt. %, based on the total weight of the monomeric mixture, of the one or more first ophthalmic device-forming comonomers; and

about 1 wt. % to about 80 wt. %, based on the total weight of the monomeric mixture, of the one or more second ophthalmic device-forming comonomers.

11 . The ophthalmic device according to claim 1 , which is a contact lens or a soft hydrogel.

12 . A method for making an ophthalmic device, comprising:

a) curing a monomeric mixture in a mold, the monomeric mixture comprising:

(i) one or more multifunctional crosslinking agents comprising one or more repeating units of one or more siloxanyl units or one or more silyl-alkyl-siloxanyl units, and at least two ethylenically unsaturated reactive end groups, wherein one of the at least two ethylenically unsaturated reactive end groups is a (meth) acrylate-containing reactive end group or an acrylamide-containing reactive end group and the other one of the at least two ethylenically unsaturated reactive end groups is an allyl-containing reactive end group;

(ii) one or more first ophthalmic device-forming comonomers having at least one reactive group that preferentially reacts with the (meth) acrylate-containing reactive end group or the acrylamide-containing reactive end group of the multifunctional crosslinking agent, wherein the one or more first ophthalmic device-forming comonomers comprise one or more silicone-containing comonomers represented by a structure of Formula I:

wherein V is an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group, L is a linker group or a bond; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , and R 9 are independently H, a C 1 to C 12 alkyl group, a halo alkyl group, a C 3 to C 12 cycloalkyl group, a heterocycloalkyl group, a C 2 to C 12 alkenyl group, a haloalkenyl group, or a C 6 to C 12 aromatic group; R 10 and R 11 are independently H or a C 1 to C 12 alkyl group, wherein at least one of R 10 and R 11 is hydrogen; y is 2 to 7 and n is 1 to 100; and

(iii) one or more second ophthalmic device-forming comonomers having at least one reactive group that preferentially reacts with the allyl-containing reactive end group of the multifunctional crosslinking agent; and

(b) dry releasing the ophthalmic device from the mold.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more multifunctional crosslinking agents comprise 1 to about 100 repeating units of the silyl-alkyl-siloxanyl group, and the alkyl group of the silyl-alkyl-siloxanyl group has from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms.

14 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more first ophthalmic device-forming comonomers further comprise one or more additional silicone-containing comonomers selected from the group consisting of a silicone-containing comonomer represented by a structure of Formula II:

wherein R 12 is H or methyl; X is O or NR 16 ; wherein R 16 is selected from H, or a C 1 to C 4 alkyl group, optionally substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups; R 13 is a divalent alkyl group, optionally functionalized with a group selected from the group consisting of an ether group, a hydroxyl group, a carbamate group and combinations thereof; each R 14 is independently a phenyl group or a C 1 to C 4 alkyl group, optionally substituted with fluorine, a hydroxyl group or an ether group; R 15 is a C 1 to C 4 alkyl group; and a is 2 to 50, a polysiloxane prepolymer represented by a structure of Formula III:

wherein each V is an independently reactive functional end group; R 17 to R 22 are independently a straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 30 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 30 cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 4 -C 30 cycloalkylalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 3 -C 30 cycloalkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 6 -C 30 aryl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C 7 -C 30 arylalkyl group, and L is independently a linking group; and x is 37, a silicone-containing comonomer represented by a structure of Formula IV:

wherein X denotes —O— or —NR 19 —, wherein R 19 is hydrogen or a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group; R 17 denotes hydrogen or methyl; each R 18 independently denotes a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, a phenyl group or a group represented by:

wherein each R 18′ independently denotes a C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or a phenyl radical; and h is 1 to 10, and a silicone-containing comonomer represented by a structure of Formula V:

wherein X denotes —NR 19 —, wherein R 19 denotes hydrogen or a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group; R 17 denotes hydrogen or methyl; each R 18 independently denotes a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, a phenyl group or a group represented by:

wherein each R 18′ independently denotes a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, or a phenyl group; and h is 1 to 10.

15 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more second ophthalmic device-forming comonomers comprise one or more hydrophilic comonomers selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic vinyl monomer, an acrylamide and mixtures thereof.

16 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the monomeric mixture comprises:

about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, based on the total weight of the monomeric mixture, of the one or more multifunctional crosslinking agents;

about 1 wt. % to about 80 wt. %, based on the total weight of the monomeric mixture, of the one or more first ophthalmic device-forming comonomers; and

about 1 wt. % to about 80 wt. %, based on the total weight of the monomeric mixture, of the one or more second ophthalmic device-forming comonomers.

17 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the ophthalmic device is a contact lens or a soft hydrogel.

18 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more second ophthalmic device-forming comonomers comprise N-vinyl pyrrolidone.

19 . The ophthalmic device according to claim 4 , wherein the one or more repeating units include a silyl-alkyl-siloxanyl group derived from a stepwise anionic polymerization reaction comprising hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane.

20 . The ophthalmic device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more second ophthalmic device-forming comonomers comprise N-vinyl pyrrolidone.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (063878/0110) Recorded Aug 14, 2025
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS RESIGNING AGENT
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 072486/0733 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 1, 2025
From: BAUSCH & LOMB INCORPORATED; ALDEN OPTICAL LABORATORIES, INC.; BAUSCH + LOMB IRELAND LIMITED
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071773/0871 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2024
From: BAUSCH + LOMB IRELAND LIMITED
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066552/0041 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 6, 2023
From: BAUSCH + LOMB IRELAND LIMITED
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063878/0110 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2023
From: AWASTHI, ALOK KUMAR; SHIH, FENG-YANG; VATANKHAH VARNOSFADERANI, MOHAMMAD; DIBELLA, JAMES ANTHONY, JR; MIS, MARK R.; RUSSELL, JADE J.
To: BAUSCH + LOMB IRELAND LIMITED
Reel/Frame 062484/0418 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63305728 · Feb 2, 2022
Related Publication 20230244000A1 · Aug 3, 2023
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