The state of water in soft contact lenses explored with near infrared spectroscopy and Aquaphotomics. Issue 6 (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Munćan, Jelena
• Is Part Of: NIR news. Volume 28:Issue 6(2017)
• Page Start: 9
• Page End: 12
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Soft contact lenses -- hydrogels -- water -- Aquaphotomics -- polymer; Near infrared spectroscopy -- Periodicals; 543.5
• DOI: 10.1177/0960336017727449
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-3360

Abstract

The structure of water in hydrogel materials of soft contact lenses was investigated by near infrared spectroscopy and Aquaphotomics. Near infrared spectroscopy offers rapid, reagent free, and nondestructive characterization of hydrogel materials, while Aquaphotomics provides detailed insight into the complex water structure inside the hydrogel consisting of many water molecular species. These findings push the limits of our knowledge beyond the current "three-state" model of water in hydrogels, while at the same time provide information about the state of the polymer itself thus justifying the "water molecular-mirror" concept of Aquaphotomics.