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Ink based graphene integration into commercial contact lenses.
Muhammed Shebeeb C1, Sanjana Chandran2, Muhammed Hisham3
1Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Material Science Center, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. ckshebeeb@gmail.com.
Scientific Reports
|August 22, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed new methods to add graphene to contact lenses, enhancing their properties. These functionalized contact lenses offer antibacterial benefits and biocompatibility for diverse applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Contact lenses (CLs) can be enhanced with additives like nanomaterials for multiple functionalities.
- Graphene-containing CLs have potential applications in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, drug delivery, and sensing.
- Current methods often involve graphene during CL manufacturing, using techniques like chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or nanocomposites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To incorporate graphene into commercial contact lenses using post-processing techniques.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of different methods for functionalizing CLs with graphene.
- To assess the properties of graphene-functionalized CLs, including optical, antibacterial, and biocompatibility characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Three post-processing techniques were employed: breath-in-breath-out (BIBO) with graphene ink, immersion in graphene ink, and 3D printing of a graphene hydrogel composite.
- BIBO cycles were repeated to achieve graphene attachment while maintaining transparency.
- Immersion time and dispersion of graphene ink in hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) resin were controlled for the other methods.
- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used for characterization.
Main Results:
- Graphene was successfully incorporated into commercial CLs via the developed post-processing methods.
- UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed graphene acted as a tinting additive with steady absorption across the visible spectrum.
- The functionalized CLs demonstrated significant antibacterial properties and exceptional biocompatibility.
- SEM analysis confirmed graphene dispersion within the CLs.
Conclusions:
- Post-processing techniques offer a viable and rapid approach for synthesizing large quantities of functionalized CLs.
- Graphene-functionalized CLs exhibit promising characteristics for applications such as broad-spectrum absorbers, antibacterial agents, and potentially drug delivery systems.
- These methods provide a versatile platform for creating advanced contact lenses with tailored functionalities.
