Interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels based on silicone and poly(2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine)

In the present work, sequential interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on silicone and poly(2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) were developed with improved protein resistance. The structure and morphology of the IPNs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the IPNs exhibited heterogeneous morphology. The bulk properties such as water content, ion permeability, and mechanical strength of the IPNs were determined by gravimetric method, ionoflux measurement technique, and tensile tester, respectively. The surface characteristics of the IPNs were investigated by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle measurements. XPS analysis suggested that PMPC was present on the surface as well as in the bulk material. The IPNs possessed more hydrophilic surface than pristine silicone revealed by contact angle measurements. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a model protein to evaluate protein resistance by a bicinchoninic acid assay method. The result revealed that the protein adsorption on the IPNs was significantly reduced compared to pristine silicone. These results suggest that the IPNs based on silicone and PMPC may be developed as novel ophthalmic biomaterials.