Contact lenses that transform gold into nanoparticles for prophylaxis of light-related events and photothermal therapy.

This work describes for first time how anisotropic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be spontaneously formed inside preformed contact lenses (CLs) avoiding the use of additional reductant agents (reagent-free) through a precise tunning of the monomeric composition, the saline concentration, and the application of steam heat sterilization. Protocols to generate AuNPs in solution using inorganic or small organic reductants are widely available. Differently, gold precursors interactions with polymer networks have been overlooked and, thus, the interest of chemically cross-linked hydrogels as organic reductants is still to be elucidated. In the ocular field, incorporation of AuNPs to CLs may expand their applications in prophylaxis, therapy and diagnosis. To carry out the work, a variety of hydrogels and commercially available CLs were incubated with gold salt solution without any other chemical reagent. AuNPs formation was monitored by changes in localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) bands and quantifying the gold sorbed. Only silicone hydrogels induced AuNPs formation at room temperature in few days; methacrylic acid red-shifted the LSPR band (550-600 nm), while monomers bearing F hindered the reduction. Storage of hydrogels in the gold precursor solution allowed a gradual formation of anisotropic AuNPs, which could be stopped at any time by washing the hydrogel with water. The developed CLs behave as efficient filters against highly penetrant light and also exhibit photoresponsiveness as demonstrated as rapid (10 s), focused mild hyperthermia when irradiated with green, red and NIR lasers.

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Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo reports equipment, drugs, or supplies was provided by Spain Ministry of Science and Innovation. Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo reports equipment, drugs, or supplies was provided by Government of Galicia Department of Culture Education and Universities. Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo reports equipment, drugs, or supplies was provided by European Regional Development Fund. Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo has patent #Patent EP23382049.7 Gold Nanoparticle Hydrogels pending to Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Angel Concheiro has patent #Patent EP23382049.7 Gold Nanoparticle Hydrogels pending to Universidade de Santiago de Compostela.