A colored contact lens incorporating a doped cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment unit and a method of making the same

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of color contact lenses doped with cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment unit and a preparation method thereof, by preparing self-assembly cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment, the self-assembly cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment is cut into hydrogel pigment unit;Hydrogel pigment unit is added to contact lens precursor polymer solution, so that hydrogel pigment unit is uniformly dispersed in contact lens precursor polymer solution;Make the contact lens precursor polymer solution doped with hydrogel pigment unit be placed in contact lens mold and solidified, form contact lens initial piece;Contact lens initial piece is hydrated, and color contact lens is obtained.The color contact lens of the application can be uniformly distributed in the whole or partial area of contact lens, can present single color or multiple colors, obtain different visual effects, and has good biocompatibility and better practical value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of contact lenses, and more specifically to a colored contact lens doped with cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment units and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] Driven by current fashion trends and people's pursuit of beauty, the number of colored contact lenses worn globally is rapidly increasing and gradually becoming popular. However, some problems exist in the current market. First, most existing colored contact lenses only offer a single color, lacking aesthetic diversity. Second, these colored contact lenses often require the addition of colored pigments to the lens material, and these pigments may have low biocompatibility, uneven surface texture, and other problems, easily leading to adverse reactions such as foreign body sensation and discomfort, and in severe cases, even causing corneal diseases and affecting vision. To solve these problems, there is a need to develop a type of colored contact lens that can both meet people's aesthetic needs and ensure that the pigments will not have adverse effects on the eyes. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a colored contact lens doped with cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment units and its preparation method. The lens uses materials with excellent biocompatibility and stability, which can provide a variety of color and pattern effects without adverse effects on the eyes.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution provided by the present invention is as follows:

[0005] A method for preparing a colored contact lens doped with cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment units, characterized by comprising the following steps:

[0006] Step S1: Prepare self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment;

[0007] Step S2: Cut the prepared self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment into hydrogel pigment units;

[0008] Step S3: Add the cut hydrogel pigment units to the contact lens precursor polymer solution to disperse the hydrogel pigment units in the contact lens precursor polymer solution.

[0009] Step S4: Place the contact lens precursor polymer solution containing hydrogel pigment units into a contact lens mold and solidify it to form a primary contact lens;

[0010] Step S5: Hydrate the initial contact lens to obtain colored contact lenses.

[0011] To optimize the above technical solution, the specific measures also include:

[0012] In step S1, the self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment is prepared by chemical grafting modification of natural cellulose and polymer precursor and then self-assembling.

[0013] Furthermore, the natural cellulose is hydroxypropyl cellulose, and the polymerization precursor is any mixture of one or more of the following: methacrylic anhydride, methyl methacrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, sodium methacrylate, fluorosilicone acrylate, vinylpyrrolidone, or ethylene glycol dimethacrylate.

[0014] The precursor polymer and photoinitiator are dispersed in water, wherein the mass percentage of the precursor polymer is 50-80% and the volume percentage of the photoinitiator is 0.8-1.2%, and the mixture is allowed to stand for 1-2 minutes to self-assemble into a cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment.

[0015] In step S2, the cut hydrogel pigment units are spherical or near-spherical particles, flakes, or a combination thereof.

[0016] Furthermore, the size of the hydrogel pigment units ranges from 500 nanometers to 200 micrometers.

[0017] In step S3, the hydrogel pigment units are uniformly dispersed in the contact lens precursor polymer solution by ultrasonic dispersion.

[0018] In step S4, the mold is subjected to ultraviolet irradiation or heat treatment to solidify the structural color colloidal solution and form the initial contact lens.

[0019] In step S5, the hydration treatment is carried out in two steps: First, the contact lens is placed in a saline solution with a pH of 8.0-10.0 for 12-24 hours for hydration; second, it is transferred to a saline solution with a pH of 7.2 and hydrated until the contact lens swelling rate stabilizes.

[0020] This invention also protects colored contact lenses prepared by the method.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0022] The colored contact lenses of this invention utilize hydrogel pigment units cut from self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigments. These hydrogel pigment units can be uniformly distributed throughout or in parts of the contact lens, exhibiting excellent dispersion. The cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment units are spherical or near-spherical particles, flakes, or combinations thereof, and their shapes can be regular, semi-regular, or irregular, thus presenting different visual effects. These cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment units can display a single color or multiple colors, such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, and the color can be adjusted and changed according to the proportion of materials used in chemical grafting modification.

[0023] The self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment used in this invention has a cholesteric liquid crystal structure, which can be regarded as a two-dimensional photonic crystal. It has the function of modulating incident light and can reflect light well, thereby giving the contact lenses a bright color appearance. Compared with other colored contact lenses, colored contact lenses doped with cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment units present more brilliant and beautiful colors.

[0024] Furthermore, the pigments in these colored contact lenses are derived from self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigments. Natural cellulose and polymer precursors are chemically grafted and modified before self-assembly (using commercially available polymer materials with proven biocompatibility). They retain the original properties of natural cellulose, are non-toxic, and will not harm the human body. They have good biocompatibility and will not cause significant toxic reactions or immune rejection reactions during human wear, thus avoiding discomfort or eye diseases and having better practical value. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a side view of the colored contact lens with a cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment unit according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; wherein, 11 is the hydrogel pigment unit and 12 is the contact lens body.

[0026] Figure 2 This is an enlarged schematic diagram of the material composition of the colored contact lens doped with cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment unit according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; wherein 2 is the constituent material of the colored contact lens, 21 is the hydrogel pigment unit, 22 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cholesteric liquid crystal inside the hydrogel pigment unit, and 23 is the contact lens body hydrogel (hydrogel formed by curing the contact lens precursor polymer solution).

[0027] Figure 3 This is an enlarged structural schematic diagram of a colored contact lens with a cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein 31 is a hydrogel pigment unit and 32 is the contact lens body. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present invention will be further described in detail below through embodiments, but it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the subject matter of the present invention to the following embodiments. All technologies implemented based on the above content of the present invention fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0029] Unless otherwise specified, the experimental methods used in the following examples are conventional methods, and the reagents, methods and equipment used are conventional reagents, methods and equipment in this technical field.

[0030] This invention provides a method for preparing colored contact lenses doped with cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment units, comprising the following steps:

[0031] Step (1): Prepare self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment. The self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment is prepared by chemical grafting modification of natural cellulose and polymer precursor and then self-assembling.

[0032] Step (2): Cut the prepared self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment into hydrogel pigment units;

[0033] Step (3): Add the cut hydrogel pigment units to the contact lens precursor polymer solution to make the hydrogel pigment units evenly dispersed in the contact lens precursor polymer solution;

[0034] Step (4): Place the contact lens precursor polymer solution containing hydrogel pigment units into a contact lens mold and solidify it to form a primary contact lens;

[0035] Step (5): Hydrate the initial contact lens to obtain colored contact lenses.

[0036] In step (3), the proportion of the hydrogel pigment units uniformly dispersed in the contact lens precursor polymer solution is controlled according to the amount of color required.

[0037] Step (4) involves placing the mold under a high-pressure mercury lamp for UV curing or placing it in an oven at 50-70°C for 4-5 hours for heat curing.

[0038] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments:

[0039] Example 1

[0040] This embodiment provides the preparation of methylpropyl cellulose functionalized with methylpropyl ester:

[0041] Dissolve 10g of hydroxypropyl cellulose in 500mL of deionized water; add 50mL of methacrylic anhydride and stir for 3 hours; then add 60mL of 200g / L sodium hydroxide solution dropwise and stir for 1 day; then dialyze the solution using a dialysis bag with a molecular weight cutoff of 14000Da for 3 days, and dry the dialysis solution using a freeze dryer to obtain methacrylate-functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose; dialyze the solution using a dialysis bag with a molecular weight cutoff of 14000Da for 2-4 days, and dry the dialysis solution using a freeze dryer to obtain methylpropyl ester-functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose.

[0042] Example 2

[0043] This embodiment provides the preparation of a single-color contact lens using cellulose-doped liquid crystal hydrogel as the pigment unit:

[0044] (1) Preparation of hydrogel pigment units:

[0045] Methacrylic anhydride-functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose was uniformly dispersed in an aqueous solution of methylene bisacrylamide, wherein the methacrylic anhydride-functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose accounted for 65% by mass and the methylene bisacrylamide accounted for 1% by volume. The mixture was allowed to stand for 2 minutes to form a self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment. The self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment was then sheared to obtain micro-particle hydrogel pigment units.

[0046] (2) Preparation of contact lens precursor polymer solution incorporating hydrogel pigment units:

[0047] The hydrogel pigment units are dispersed in a contact lens precursor polymer solution to obtain a contact lens precursor polymer solution incorporating the hydrogel pigment units; wherein the contact lens precursor polymer solution is a mixed solution of hydroxyethyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in a molar ratio of 20:1, and the mass-volume ratio of the initiator azobisisobutyronitrile is 0.1%.

[0048] (3) Curing treatment of hydrogel solution doped with cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment unit in mold:

[0049] The hydrogel pigment units are uniformly dispersed in the contact lens precursor polymer solution by ultrasonic dispersion. 120 ml of the contact lens precursor polymer solution containing the hydrogel pigment units is poured into the contact lens preparation mold, and then irradiated with a high-pressure mercury lamp at 4°C for 30 minutes to solidify the hydrogel solution and form the initial contact lens.

[0050] (4) Hydration treatment:

[0051] The cured colloidal polymer is peeled off from the mold and then hydrated. The hydration process is carried out in two steps: first, it is placed in a saline solution with a pH of 8.0-10.0 for 12-24 hours; then, it is transferred to a saline solution with a pH of 7.2 until the swelling rate of the contact lens stabilizes. Finally, a brightly colored contact lens containing a green structural color liquid crystal hydrogel pigment is obtained.

[0052] Example 2

[0053] This embodiment provides the preparation of contact lenses (three colors) using cellulose-doped liquid crystal hydrogel as pigment units:

[0054] (1) Preparation of hydrogel pigment units:

[0055] The first portion of methacrylic anhydride-functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose and the first portion of methylene bisacrylamide were uniformly dispersed in deionized water, wherein the methacrylic anhydride-functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose accounted for 60% by mass and the methylene bisacrylamide accounted for 1% by volume.

[0056] The second part of methacrylic anhydride-functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose and the second part of methylene bisacrylamide were uniformly dispersed in deionized water, wherein the methacrylic anhydride-functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose accounted for 65% by mass and the methylene bisacrylamide accounted for 1% by volume.

[0057] The third part of methacrylic anhydride-functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose and the third part of methylene bisacrylamide were uniformly dispersed in deionized water, wherein the methacrylic anhydride-functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose accounted for 70% by mass and the methylene bisacrylamide accounted for 1% by volume.

[0058] Each pigment was left to stand for 2 minutes to form a self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment. The self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment was then cut to obtain three types of hydrogel pigment units in the form of tiny particles.

[0059] (2) Preparation of contact lens precursor polymer solution incorporating hydrogel pigment units:

[0060] Three hydrogel pigment units were dispersed in a contact lens precursor polymer solution to obtain a contact lens precursor polymer solution incorporating hydrogel pigment units; wherein the contact lens precursor polymer solution was a mixed solution of hydroxyethyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in a molar ratio of 20:1, and the mass-volume ratio of the initiator azobisisobutyronitrile was 0.1%.

[0061] (3) Curing treatment of hydrogel solution doped with cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment unit in mold:

[0062] The hydrogel pigment units are uniformly dispersed in the contact lens precursor polymer solution by ultrasonic dispersion. 120 ml of the contact lens precursor polymer solution containing the hydrogel pigment units is poured into the contact lens preparation mold, and then irradiated with a high-pressure mercury lamp at 4°C for 30 minutes to solidify the hydrogel solution and form the initial contact lens.

[0063] (4) Hydration treatment:

[0064] The cured colloidal polymer is peeled off the mold and then hydrated. The hydration process is carried out in two steps: first, it is placed in a saline solution with a pH of 8.0-10.0 for 12-24 hours; then, it is transferred to a saline solution with a pH of 7.2 until the contact lens swelling rate stabilizes. The result is a brightly colored contact lens containing cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment units in red, green, and blue.

[0065] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Any simple modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made by those skilled in the art to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present invention, based on the technical essence of the present invention, shall still fall within the protection scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of making a colored contact lens doped with a cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment unit, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step S1: Prepare self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment; Step S2: Cut the prepared self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment into hydrogel pigment units; Step S3: Add the cut hydrogel pigment units to the contact lens precursor polymer solution to disperse the hydrogel pigment units in the contact lens precursor polymer solution; Step S4: Place the contact lens precursor polymer solution containing hydrogel pigment units into a contact lens mold and solidify it to form a primary contact lens; Step S5: Hydrate the initial contact lens to obtain colored contact lenses; In step S1, the self-assembled cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment is prepared by chemical grafting modification of natural cellulose and a polymerization precursor followed by self-assembly. The natural cellulose is hydroxypropyl cellulose, and the polymerization precursor is any mixture of one or more of the following: methacrylic anhydride, methyl methacrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, sodium methacrylate, fluorosilicone acrylate, vinylpyrrolidone, or ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. The product of chemical grafting modification of natural cellulose and polymerization precursor and a photoinitiator are dispersed in water, wherein the mass percentage of the precursor polymer is 50-80% and the volume percentage of the photoinitiator is 0.8-1.2%. After standing for 1-2 minutes, the cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment is self-assembled.

2. The method of making a colored contact lens of doped cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step S2, the cut hydrogel pigment units are spherical or near-spherical particles, flakes, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of making a colored contact lens of doped cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The size of the hydrogel pigment units ranges from 500 nanometers to 200 micrometers.

4. The method of making a colored contact lens of doped cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step S3, the hydrogel pigment units are uniformly dispersed in the contact lens precursor polymer solution by ultrasonic dispersion.

5. The method for preparing colored contact lenses with doped cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment units according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step S4, the mold is subjected to ultraviolet irradiation or heat treatment to solidify the product obtained in step S3, forming a preliminary contact lens.

6. The method for preparing colored contact lenses with doped cellulose liquid crystal hydrogel pigment units according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step S5, the hydration treatment is carried out in two steps: First, the contact lens is placed in a saline solution with a pH of 8.0-10.0 for 12-24 hours for hydration; second, it is transferred to a saline solution with a pH of 7.2 and hydrated until the contact lens swelling rate stabilizes.

7. Colored contact lenses prepared by the method according to any one of claims 1-6.

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