Preparation of Porous Hydrogels Using Blowing Agents and Application to Contact Lenses

This study aims to confirm the applicability of a contact lens by manufacturing a high-functional porous hydrogel containing a blowing agent and examining its properties. In addition, the physical properties according to the type and content of the blowing agent in the hydrogel were compared. Hydrogel contact lenses were prepared using 1% and 3% sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate as blowing agent, respectively. Light transmittance, water content, refractive index, oxygen permeability, contact angle, protein adsorption were measured for physical and chemical properties. As the amount of blowing agent increased, the water content, wettability, and oxygen permeability increased, but the refractive index and tensile strength decreased. The adsorption amount of protein also decreased as the amount of blowing agent increased. The hydrogel added with the foaming agent maintained the basic optical properties of the contact lens, and it was confirmed that it could be applied to the contact lens because it was very excellent in moisture content, oxygen permeability, and wettability.