This study aimed to overcome the limitations of silicone monomers by synthesizing the silicone monomer 3-(3-(bis(trimethylsiloxy)(methyl)silyl) propanoyloxy)-2-hydroxy propylmethacrylate (SiGMA-O) and fabricating a polymer contact lens using it to confirm its potential as a contact lens material. The structure of the synthesized monomer was confirmed through ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR analyses, and the fabricated lenses were evaluated for moisture content, contact angle, oxygen permeability, light transmittance, refractive index and protein adsorption. The performance was compared with that of 3-[tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl]propyl methacrylate (Tris) and 3-methacryloxy-2-hydroxypropoxy) propylbis(trimethylsiloxy)methylsilane (SiGMA), which are mainly used in existing contact lenses. The SiGMA-O-based lenses had higher water content and oxygen permeability than the conventional monomers, and improved wettability with a low contact angle. In addition, protein adsorption to the contact lens was reduced. This confirms that the newly synthesized SiGMA-O is a material applicable to contact lenses with improved performance.

본 연구는 실리콘 단량체의 한계를 극복하기 위해, 실리콘 단량체 3-(3-(bis(trimethylsiloxy)(methyl)silyl) propanoyloxy)-2-hydroxy propylmethacrylate(SiGMA-O)를 합성하고, 이것을 이용한 중합체인 콘택트렌즈를 제작하여 콘택트렌즈 소재의 가능성을 확인하고자 하였다. 합성된 단량체의 구조는 ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR 분석을 통해 확인하였으며, 제작된 렌즈는 함수율, 접촉각, 산소투과율, 광투과율, 굴절률 및 단백질 흡착량 등을 평가하였다. 기존 콘택트렌즈에 주로 사용하고 있는 3-[tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl]propyl merthacrylate(Tris) 및 3-methacryloxy-2-hydroxypropxy)propylbis (trimethylsiloxy)methylsilane(SiGMA) 기반 렌즈와 성능을 비교하였다. SiGMA-O 기반 렌즈는 기존 단량체 대비 함수율과 산소투과율이 높았으며 낮은 접촉각으로 습윤성이 향상되었다. 또한 콘택트렌즈로의 단백질 흡착도 감소하였다. 이로써 새로 합성한 SiGMA-O는 성능이 향상된 콘택트렌즈에 적용 가능한 소재임을 확인하였다.

Keywords: modified silicone monomer, silicone hydrogel, contact lens, protein adsorption, physicochemical properties.