Browsing by Author "Barner-Kowollik, C"

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    The use of SAXS and SANS to assist the design of block copolymers for ophthalmic applications
    (The Bragg Institute, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, 2005-11-27) Saricilar, S; Davis, TP; Stenzel, M; Barner-Kowollik, C; Knott, RB
    The important properties of soft, extended-wear contact lenses include biocompatibility, oxygen permeability, wettability, material strength and stability. Significant overnight corneal swelling caused by low oxygen permeability limits the use of conventional hydrogels. The effect of molecular architecture on oxygen permeability is being investigated for a range of diblock copolymers based on monomers currently used in the contact lens industry. Diblock copolymers are synthesised via the controlled free radical polymerisation (RAFT) of 3-[tris(trimethyl silyoxy) silyl] propyl methacrylate (TRIS) with (i) methyl methacrylate (l\l|l\llA), and (ii) tert-butyl methacrylate (t-BuI\llA). The aim is to develop novel diblock copolymers with oxygen permeability (Dk) above 100 barrers in combination with superior hydration properties that will lead to materials suitable for extended-wear contact lenses. The molecular architecture of diblock copolymers has been determined using Small Angle X-ray and Neutron Scattering (SAXS and SANS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and the results correlated with oxygen permeability and hydration effects. © The Authors