Soft contact lens (SCL) biomaterials originated from the discovery of a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (poly[HEMA])-based hydrogel in 1960. Incorporation of hydrophilic polymers into poly(HEMA) hydrogels was performed in the 1970-1980s, which brought an increase in the equilibrium water content, leading to an enhancement of the oxygen permeability. Nowadays, the poly(HEMA)-based hydrogels have been applied in disposable SCL. At the same time, high oxygen-permeable silicone hydrogels were produced, which made it possible to continually wear SCL. Recently, numerous trials for improving the water wettability of silicone hydrogels have been performed. However, little attention has been paid to improving their anti-biofouling properties and biocompatibility. Since biomimetic phospholipid polymers possess excellent anti-biofouling properties and biocompatibility they have the potential to play a valuable role in the surface modification of the silicone hydrogel. The representative phospholipid polymers containing a 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) unit suppressed nonspecific protein adsorption, increased cell compatibility and contributed to blood compatible biomaterials. The MPC polymer coating on the silicone hydrogel improved its water wettability and biocompatibility, while maintaining high oxygen permeability compared with the original silicone hydrogel. Furthermore, the newly prepared phospholipid-type intermolecular crosslinker made it possible to synthesize a 100% phospholipid polymer hydrogel that can enhance the anti-biofouling properties and biocompatibility. In this review, the authors discuss how polymer hydrogels should be designed in order to obtain a biocompatible SCL and future perspectives.

2‐Methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) is a custom methacrylate with a zwitterionic phosphorylcholine moiety on the side chain. In the past 25 years, MPC has been used as a building block for a wide range of polymeric biomaterials because of its excellent resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption, cell adhesion, and blood coagulation. Recently, MPC polymers with specific features have been used in bioengineering and nanomedicine. This review focuses on three topics that highlight the latest findings on MPC polymers, that is, specific recognition of C‐reactive protein (CRP), cell‐membrane‐penetration abilities, and lubrication properties. These developments will extend the applications of this biomimetic material from bioinert polymers to biosensing, CRP inhibitors, prodrug carriers, subcellular bioimaging, cell manipulation, and joint replacement. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41766.