Cinnamic Alcohol Crosslinked Acrylic Intraocular Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current acrylic polymer materials for intraocular lenses are difficult to manufacture due to exothermic radical polymerization processes, requiring careful temperature control and long durations, and often result in sticky, unsuitable products for implantation.
Innovation Solution
A crosslinked, viscoelastic, and flexible acrylic polymer material is developed using a mixture of acrylic or methacrylic monomers with cinnamic alcohol, allowing for single-step radical polymerization at higher temperatures without transfer agents, reducing manufacturing complexity and time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional acrylic polymer materials are used for intraocular lenses, then optical function and transparency are achieved, but the materials are difficult to manufacture due to exothermic radical polymerization requiring careful temperature control and long durations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by incorporating specific comonomers (at least 50 wt% acrylic or methacrylic monomers with additional functional monomers) and crosslinking agents (0.1-10 wt% of total monomers) to change the polymerization characteristics. This enables the material to undergo radical polymerization with reduced exothermicity and shorter duration while maintaining optical properties (transparency and refractive index >1.5).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite polymer system combining acrylic/methacrylic monomers with crosslinking agents and functional comonomers. This composite structure achieves both the desired optical function (transparency, refractive index) and improved manufacturability (reduced exothermicity, shorter polymerization time) by synergistic interaction of components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional crosslinked acrylic polymers are used, then structural stability is achieved, but the materials become sticky and unsuitable for implantation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing specific functional monomers (at least 50 wt% acrylic or methacrylic monomers with additional comonomers containing specific functional groups) that locally modify the polymer chains. These functional groups are distributed throughout the crosslinked structure to provide anti-stick properties at specific locations where monomer units are incorporated, while the overall crosslinked network maintains structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by controlling crosslinking agent concentration (0.1-10 wt%) and incorporating functional comonomers in specific proportions. This optimization reduces stickiness (undesired adhesion properties) while preserving structural stability through controlled crosslinking density and functional group distribution.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the incision size is reduced for atraumatic surgery, then patient trauma and postoperative astigmatism are minimized, but the lens must be greatly compressed to pass through the small incision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a flexible polymer material with controlled crosslinking (0.1-10 wt% crosslinking agents) that allows the lens to be compressed and folded into a compact form for insertion through small incisions (1.0-3.0 mm). The crosslinked network provides sufficient mechanical strength to withstand compression and folding stresses while maintaining structural integrity after deployment in the eye.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the lens to be folded and curved into compact configurations for insertion through small incisions. The material's flexibility and elastic recovery allow it to be bent into various shapes during insertion and then return to its original optical shape once deployed in the lens bag, maintaining optical function.
4Ease of operation
If the lens is compressed for insertion through small incision, then it can be implanted through the injector, but it must deploy quickly and completely after release to position itself correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic material system with controlled crosslinking density (0.1-10 wt% crosslinking agents) that transitions from a compressed, flexible state during insertion to an expanded, stable state after deployment. The crosslinked network provides elastic memory that enables rapid recovery of the lens shape upon release from the injector, ensuring quick and complete deployment for proper positioning in the lens bag.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The new material is easier to produce, more flexible, and non-sticky, with improved mechanical properties, enabling efficient production of intraocular lenses that can be implanted without complications, and is less hazardous to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
allowing for single-step radical polymerization at higher temperatures without transfer agents
Data Source
AI summary
The material according to the invention is an acrylic copolymer, which is crosslinked, viscoelastic, flexible and deformable at room temperature and hydrophobic, of at least 50 wt % of acrylic or methacrylic monomers and cinnamic alcohol. The mixture of monomers preferably includes: —at least one arylalkoxy-acrylate or one arylalkoxy-methacrylate; at least one hydroxylated acrylate and one hydroxylated methacrylate; at least one ethoxylated diol diacrylate and one ethoxylated diol dimethacrylate; and cinnamic alcohol. Said material is obtained in a single step of radical polymerization and is presented in the form of a three-dimensional macromolecular network including a cinnamic alcohol unit. Said material is used for manufacturing intraocular lenses (1).