UV Radiation Influence on Prosthetic PMMA Surface Charge

Abstract

Nowadays in eye prosthetics and eye lenses produc-tion mostly poly methyl metha acrylate (PMMA) is used be-cause the material excellently fulfills biomedical and aesthetic functions. Peculiarities of PMMA material determines that under influence of mechanical impact (wind, sand, eye lid movements) and degradation in time, surface properties alter and wetting between supplementary aid and eye lid declines. Reduced biocompatibility follows, discomfort and inflammations in the eye socket region occur. Therefore, the aim of this research is to decrease/avoid complications by regulating surface charge that would result in wettability alterations, possibly altered to patients gain. It is presumed that applying small enough energy, will influence properties at surface level without changing bulk properties since only the first are responsible for interaction between eye prosthesis or lens and eye socket. For that reason non-ionizing Ultra Violet radiation is used in range 200- 400nm. Processed material was examined by means of detecting electron work function, contact angle and absorption spectra to find correlation between surface charge and other surface properties, e.g., wettability. Results demonstrate, that UV radiation influences PMMA surface electrical charge and also wettability in non-linear manner. UV radiation could be used to functionalize PMMA surface by not influencing its structure with UV exposures under 60 minutes