Silicone hydrogels incorporated with poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) were prepared and characterized to evaluate the effects of PEG on contact lenses. The silicone hydrogels were copolymerized with methacryloxypropyl tris(trimethylsiloxy) silane (TRIS), methyl methacrylate (MMA), N,N-dimethyl acrylamide (DMA) and PEG-containing monomers such as poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEG-MEM). The silicone hydrogels were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), electron spectroscopy of chemical analysis (ESCA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Water absorbance, water contact angle and light transmittance of the silicone hydrogels were evaluated. The experiments of protein adsorption were also carried out to evaluate the protein adsorption in tears. The peak intensity of C-O bond was increased by the incorporation of PEG-containing monomers and thus PEG incorporation into silicone hydrogels could be confirmed. Phase separation was not shown by the SEM observation of the cross-section of silicone hydrogels. Water absorbancy was increased, while water contact angle and light transmittance were decreased with increasing incorporation of the PEGcontaining monomers. The absorption of proteins in tears, albumin, lysozyme and γ-globulin, on the surface of silicone hydrogels was decreased with increasing incorporation of the PEG-containing monomers.

Poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)이 콘택트렌즈에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위하여 PEG가 도입된 실리콘 수화젤 렌즈를 제조하고 특성을 평가하였다. 실리콘 수화젤 렌즈는 methacryloxypropyl tris(trimethylsiloxy) silane(TRIS), methyl methacrylate(MMA), N,N-dimethyl acrylamide(DMA) 등과 PEG 함유 단량체인 poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate(PEG-MEM)를 공중합하여 제조하였다. 특성평가는 Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR), electron spectroscopy of chemical analysis(ESCA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) 등과 물 흡수도, 물 접촉각, 광투과도, 인장강도 등을 평가하였고 단백질 흡착 실험을 행하였다. FT-IR 및 ESCA 분석결과 C-O 결합피크의 증가를 보여 PEG 도입을 확인하였고 SEM 분석결과 상분리 현상은 나타나지 않았다. 물흡수도는 PEG-MEM의 도입에 따라 1차적으로 증가하였고 물 접촉각 및 광투과도는 감소하는 현상을 나타내었 다. 단백질흡착 실험결과, PEG의 도입에 따라 눈물 속에 있는 단백질인 albumin, lysozyme, γ-globulin 등의 흡착이 감소하는 현상을 나타내었다. 또한 PEG 분자량의 증가에 따라 흡착되는 단백질의 양이 감소하는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 인공눈물을 사용한 단백질 흡착실험에서도 PEG의 도입에 따라 단백질 흡착이 감소하는 현상을 나타내었다.

Keywords: silicone hydrogel; contact lens; polyethylene; PEG; protein adsorption.