Cellulose hydrogel compositions and contact lenses for corneal applications

摘要

The present invention provides cellulose hydrogels having one or more of the following properties: high water content, high transparency, high oxygen permeability, high biocompatibility, high tensile strength and desirable thermal stability. The present invention further provides a process for preparing a cellulose hydrogel comprising (i) a step of activating cellulose, in which the activating step comprises contacting the cellulose with a solvent to activate the cellulose for a time duration from about 2 hours to about 30 hours; (ii) substantially dissolving the activated cellulose to form a solution; and (iii) gelling the solution to form a gel, in which the gelling step comprises allowing the solution to gel in an environment comprising a relative humidity from about 30% to about 80% at 35° C.

主权项

1. A wet cellulose hydrogel, comprising: a cellulose content from about 1% to about 10% by weight; said cellulose hydrogel comprising (a) a tear strength of from about 0.8 N/mm to about 3 N/mm and (b) a Young's modulus of from about 900 kPa to about 1600 kPa; said cellulose hydrogel further comprising one or more properties selected from the group consisting of (i) a tensile strength in the range of from about 50 kPa to about 4000 kPa; (ii) a transparency that exceeds 85% at 550 nm; and (iii) an oxygen permeability from about 55 to about 150 Dk.