Described is a silicone hydrogel contact lens having non-uniform morphology. The contact lens may be made from a reactive mixture comprising: a silicone-containing component; a hydrophilic component; a non-reactive polymeric internal wetting agent; and a polymerization initiator, the contact lens having an oxygen permeability of at least about 60 barrers, and wherein the molar ratio in the lens of the polymeric non-reactive internal wetting agent to silicone, without a surface treatment, is greater in the lens's surface than in its bulk.

Described is a silicone hydrogel contact lens having non-uniform morphology. The contact lens may be made from a reactive mixture comprising: a silicone-containing component; a hydrophilic component; a non-reactive polymeric internal wetting agent; and a polymerization initiator, the contact lens having an oxygen permeability of at least about 60 barrers, and wherein the molar ratio in the lens of the polymeric non-reactive internal wetting agent to silicone, without a surface treatment, is greater in the lens's surface than in its bulk.

A water-barrier laminate having a water-trapping layer (1) in which a hygroscopic agent is dispersed, wherein a hygroscopic agent has such a hygroscopic property that the ratio (Ax/Ay) of a hygroscopic amount Ax at a relative humidity of 80% and a hygroscopic amount Ay at a relative humidity of 30% is not less than 3, and the water-trapping layer is positioned between the two inorganic barrier layers (3a) and (3b). The water-barrier laminate exhibits barrier property against the water over extended periods of time.

Provided herein is a composite material that includes at least one thermoresponsive polymer and at least one organic foam material. Further provided herein is a method for producing the composite material and also to the use of the composite material for cooling and for regulating temperature.

Described is a silicone hydrogel contact lens having non-uniform morphology. The contact lens may be made from a reactive mixture comprising: a silicone-containing component; a hydrophilic component; a non-reactive polymeric internal wetting agent; and a polymerization initiator, the contact lens having an oxygen permeability of at least about 60 barrers, and wherein the molar ratio in the lens of the polymeric non-reactive internal wetting agent to silicone, without a surface treatment, is greater in the lens's surface than in its bulk.

The invention relates to a material formed by a polymer substrate and a hydrogel based on vinyl-lactams and ionic methacrylates. The invention also relates to a method for producing this material and to the use thereof for cell culture and cell monolayer engineering, for preparing 3D scaffolds and manufacturing thermosensitive mechanical actuators.

Described is a silicone hydrogel contact lens having non-uniform morphology. The contact lens may be made from a reactive mixture comprising: a silicone-containing component; a hydrophilic component; a non-reactive polymeric internal wetting agent; and a polymerization initiator, the contact lens having an oxygen permeability of at least about 60 barrers, and wherein the molar ratio in the lens of the polymeric non-reactive internal wetting agent to silicone, without a surface treatment, is greater in the lens's surface than in its bulk.

Described is a silicone hydrogel contact lens having non-uniform morphology. The contact lens may be made from a reactive mixture comprising: a silicone-containing component; a hydrophilic component; a non-reactive polymeric internal wetting agent; and a polymerization initiator, the contact lens having an oxygen permeability of at least about 60 barrers, and wherein the molar ratio in the lens of the polymeric non-reactive internal wetting agent to silicone, without a surface treatment, is greater in the lens's surface than in its bulk.

Methods are provided for surface-modifying a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer. The methods allow these rubber vulcanizate or thermoplastic elastomer objects to have a lubricating surface layer chemically fixed thereon, instead of having a resin coating which has drawbacks such as a reduction in lubricity due to e.g. separation or peeling of the coating during movement within a vessel or tract. The present invention relates to a method for surface-modifying an object made of a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer, the method including: step 1 of forming polymerization initiation points on a surface of the object; and step 2 of radically polymerizing a monomer starting from the polymerization initiation points by irradiation with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 300 to 400 nm in the presence of an alkali metal salt to grow polymer chains on the surface of the object.

Provided herein is a composite material that includes at least one thermoresponsive polymer and at least one organic foam material. Further provided herein is a method for producing the composite material and also to the use of the composite material for cooling and for regulating temperature.