Preparation and Characterization of Eye Medical Hydrogel Lens Polymers Containing Tretinoin

This study analyzed the physical properties of hydrogel lens prepared by photopolymerization and thermal polymerization using tretinoin (ATRA) as an additive to improve functionality, such as alleviating dry eyes and to impart antibacterial properties. In addition, we wanted to confirm the applicability of the ophthalmic material as a drug delivery system for hydrogel lenses using BSA, a protein nanoparticle. The optical and physical properties of the manufactured lenses were evaluated through measurements of spectral transmittance, refractive index, water content, tensile strength, contact angle, SEM, drug delivery, and antibacterial properties. According to the polymerization method, the hydrogel lenses tended to be the same, with increased physical properties according to the amount of added ATRA, except water content. The hydrogel lens with added ATRA protein nanoparticles was found to have superior physical properties compared with the lens to which protein nanoparticles were not added. Therefore, ATRA is effective in improving the functionality of hydrogel lenses. When the soaking method was used to add BSA nanoparticles, the drug was released for a long time, so it can be used with a variety of ophthalmic materials as a method to increase the functionality of ophthalmic medical devices.