천연 항균성분 함유 콘택트렌즈의 제조 및 용출 특성

Purpose: This study aimed to implicate a lens synthesis process that uses soft contact lenses (hereinafter soft lenses) as a drug delivery system for a natural antibacterial component and allows optimal release of the drug. Methods: Glycyrrhizic acid ammonium salt was used as a natural antibacterial component, and it was added to the synthesized soft lenses using molecular imprinting polymerization (MIP). The amount released from the synthesized lenses was measured and compared according to the number of functional monomers and initiator concentration. Results: As the concentration of glycyrrhizic acid increased, it was possible to make greater space for the drug to be loaded, and the loading amount of 0.05 mM showed high efficiency with respect to its release. When applying the MIP technique, it was found that the total release of glycyrrhizic acid was highest when a single functional monomer was used with a 0.5% concentration of the initiator, and when multifunctional monomers were used, the release was prolonged at a relatively constant rate as well as having a low initial burst release. Conclusions: This study shows that it is possible to establish the conditions for synthesizing soft lenses containing glycyrrhizic acid, thus solving the resistance issue facing current antibiotics and developing a functional soft contact lens that inhibits ocular disease caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus.