Polymeric networks from water-soluble prepolymers

US5665840A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Novartis AG · CH

Inventors

• Thomas Pohlmann · Niedernberg, DE
• Achim Müller · Aschaffenburg, DE
• Bernhard Seiferling · Goldbach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 3, 1995
• Grant date: Sep 9, 1997
• Expiry date: Nov 3, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08F2810/50
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention describes a water-soluble crosslinkable prepolymer that comprises, in the copolymer chain, units derived from the following monomeric structural units: a vinyl lactam (a), vinyl alcohol (b), optionally a lower alkanecarboxylic acid vinyl ester (c), a vinylic crosslinking agent (d) and optionally a vinylic photoinitiator (e); a process for the preparation of the novel prepolymers; crosslinked water-insoluble polymeric networks therefrom; hydrogels and moulded articles made from the crosslinked water-insoluble polymeric networks, especially contact lenses; and a process for the manufacture of hydrogels and finished contact lenses using the mentioned crosslinkable water-soluble prepolymers.