Copolymer, wetting agent, medical device, and method for producing same

Abstract

Disclosed are: a polymer for treating the surface of a medical device such as a contact lens to suppress the reduction in lubricity of the device even when the device is scrubbed; a medical device having the polymer on the surface so that the reduction in lubricity over time is suppressed; and a wetting agent containing the polymer. The polymer for treating the surface is a copolymer which is water-soluble and includes as constitutional units the following monomers A and B: monomer A: a monomer containing a (meth)acryloyl group and an ester or amide structure in a molecule, in which the ester or amide structure is not constituted by including a part of the (meth)acryloyl group; monomer B: a monomer containing a (meth)acrylamide group in a molecule and having a structure different from that of the monomer A.

1 . A copolymer which is water-soluble and comprises as constitutional units the following monomers A and B:
 monomer A: a monomer containing a (meth)acryloyl group and an ester or amide structure in a molecule, wherein said ester or amide structure is not constituted by including a part of said (meth)acryloyl group;   monomer B: a monomer containing a (meth)acrylamide group in a molecule and having a structure different from that of said monomer A.   
     
     
         2 . The copolymer according to  claim 1 , wherein said (meth)acryloyl group in said monomer A is bound to said ester or amide structure via a divalent hydrocarbon group containing a hetero atom. 
     
     
         3 . The copolymer according to  claim 1 , wherein said monomer A is a compound represented by the following formula [I]: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein,
 R 1  represents hydrogen or methyl; 
 R 2  represents alkyl; 
 X represents oxygen or NR 3 , wherein R 3  represents hydrogen or alkyl; 
 Y represents oxygen or NR 4 , wherein R 4  represents hydrogen or alkyl;
 R 4  and R 2  optionally together form a ring structure; and
 m represents an integer from 1 to 4. 
 
 
 
       
     
     
         4 . The copolymer according to  claim 3 , wherein said monomer A is a compound represented by the following formula [II]: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein,
 R 1  represents hydrogen or methyl; 
 X represents oxygen or NR 3 , wherein R 3  represents hydrogen or alkyl; 
 m represents an integer from 1 to 4; and 
 n represents an integer from 1 to 3. 
 
       
     
     
         5 . The copolymer according to  claim 1 , wherein said monomer B is a compound represented by the following formula [III]: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein, 
         R 5  represents hydrogen or methyl; and 
         R 6  and R 7  each independently represent hydrogen or alkyl; or R 6  and R 7  optionally together form a ring structure. 
       
     
     
         6 . The copolymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the monomer A content is 5 to 50 mol %, and the monomer B content is 50 to 95 mol %. 
     
     
         7 . A medical device comprising a substrate, and said copolymer according to  claim 1  on at least a part of the surface of said substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device according to  claim 7 , which is an ophthalmic lens. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device according to  claim 8 , wherein said ophthalmic lens is a contact lens. 
     
     
         10 . A wetting agent comprising said copolymer according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The wetting agent according to  claim 10 , which is in the form of an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         12 . The wetting agent according to  claim 11 , which is an external wetting agent. 
     
     
         13 . The wetting agent according to  claim 10 , which is for use in a medical device. 
     
     
         14 . The wetting agent according to  claim 13 , wherein said medical device is an ophthalmic lens. 
     
     
         15 . The wetting agent according to  claim 14 , wherein said ophthalmic lens is a contact lens. 
     
     
         16 . A method of wetting a medical device, said method comprising contacting said wetting agent according to  claim 10  with said medical device. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the contacting is carried out under heat. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said medical device is an ophthalmic lens. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said ophthalmic lens is a contact lens. 
     
     
         20 . A method of producing a medical device, said method comprising the steps of: placing said wetting agent according to  claim 10  and a substrate of a medical device in a vessel; and heat-treating the resultant.