Polymeric compositions and hydrogels formed therefrom
AssigneeSyntex (U.S.A.) Inc.
InventorsPaul M. Gallop, Donald R. Korb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides new hydrogel forming materials comprising synthetic, hydrophilic, aqueous-insoluble polymer networks formed by copolymerization of a hydrophilic dihydroxyalkyl acrylate or methacrylate, a substantially water insoluble alkyl acrylate or methacrylate, one or more additional hydrophilic comonomers selected from the group of vinylic monomers, acrylates, and methacrylates, and a cross-linking agent. The hydrogels are preferably used for the formation of contact lenses, but may also be used for drug and pesticides delivery devices; dialysis, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis membranes; implants in surgery and dentistry; and the like.
Claims30
A hydrophilic polymer comprising the polymerization product of:
- a first monomer comprising a dihydroxyalkyl acrylate,
- a second monomer comprising a substantially water insoluble alkyl acrylate or alkyl methacrylate, the mole ratio of said first monomer to said second monomer varying within the range from about 1:3 to about 20:1;
- a third monomer comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of:
- ##STR10## where R.sup.3 is hydroxyl, alkoxy having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a sulfonic acid moiety, ##STR11## wherein R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from hydrogen and an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group having from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 may be combined to form a cyclic group, or ##STR12## wherein R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are as defined above, and n is an integer from 0 to about 4, except that n must be at least 1 when R.sup.3 is hydroxyl;
- ##STR13## where R.sup.6 is hydroxyalkoxy having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or --NR.sup.7 R.sup.8 where R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are independently selected from hydrogen and lower alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
- ##STR14## where R.sup.9 is hyroxyalkoxy having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms;
- and (d) mixtures thereof:
- the total of the molar quantities of said first and second monmers to the molar quantity of said third monomer being in the range of 1:1 to 1:0.2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.