Functionalized Surface Coatings for Rigid Contact Lenses.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Rigid contact lenses are prone to biofouling, which can compromise performance and wearer comfort.
• Developing effective antifouling coatings is crucial for improving the longevity and safety of contact lens materials.
• Phenolic composites offer potential for durable and functional surface modification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comparatively evaluate three phenolic composite coatings for rigid contact lenses.
• To enhance the antifouling properties and hydrophobicity of contact lens surfaces.
• To investigate the efficacy of a dual-layer coating system incorporating synthetic peptoids.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of dual-layer coatings with phenolic composites and synthetic peptoids.
• Surface characterization using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
• Assessment of antifouling efficacy via protein adsorption tests and fluorescence intensity measurements.
• Evaluation of surface wettability using contact angle measurements.

Main Results:

• Successful integration and grafting of polyphenolic and peptoid layers confirmed by XPS.
• Demonstrated significant reduction in protein adsorption, indicating strong antifouling capabilities.
• Contact angle measurements revealed enhanced hydrophobicity of the coated surfaces.
• Fluorescence intensity quantification provided a clear measure of coating effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• The developed phenolic composite coatings, particularly the dual-layer system with peptoids, show significant promise for enhancing rigid contact lens performance.
• These coatings effectively reduce biofouling and improve surface hydrophobicity, addressing key challenges in contact lens technology.
• The findings support the potential of these advanced materials for next-generation contact lens applications.