Ophthalmic Hydrogel Contact Lens Material Containing Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles and 3-(Trifluoromethyl)styrene for Biomedical Application

Application of hydrogel microneedles in the oral cavity

Microneedles are a transdermal drug delivery system in which the needle punctures the epithelium to deliver the drug directly to deep tissues, thus avoiding the influence of the first-pass effect of the gastrointestinal tract and minimizing the likelihood of pain induction. Hydrogel microneedles are microneedles prepared from hydrogels that have good biocompatibility, controllable mechanical properties, and controllable drug release and can be modified to achieve environmental control of drug release in vivo. The large epithelial tissue in the oral cavity is an ideal site for drug delivery via microneedles. Hydrogel microneedles can overcome mucosal hindrances to delivering drugs to deep tissues; this prevents humidity and a highly dynamic environment in the oral cavity from influencing the efficacy of the drugs and enables them to obtain better therapeutic effects. This article analyzes the materials and advantages of common hydrogel microneedles and reviews the application of hydrogel microneedles in the oral cavity.

Correlation Analysis of Surface and Physical Properties of Ophthalmic Lenses Containing Nanoparticles

Since contact lenses directly contact the cornea, the surface roughness of the lens may cause various side effects. In addition, gold nanoparticles can realize a variety of colors and characteristics depending on their shape and size. In this study, the surface roughness of tinted lenses containing gold nanoparticles of various sizes was analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) at aspect ratio(surface to volume ratio) ranging from 1:1 to 1:10. The characteristics of the lenses were then confirmed. As a result, tinted lenses with different colors depending on the size of the gold nanoparticles were manufactured. The surface roughness of the lens decreased with increasing size of the gold nanoparticles. However, at aspect ratio of 1:10, increase in surface roughness was observed. In addition, it was confirmed that the wettability and antibacterial properties of the lens had the same effect according to the average surface roughness value. Therefore, it was confirmed that the addition of gold nanoparticles reduced the surface roughness of the lens, which had a great effect on properties such as wettability and antimicrobial properties of the lens. The produced copolymer controls the surface roughness of the lens, and thus it is judged that it can be used as a material for various ophthalmology applications.