Combining advanced characterization, synchrotron science, and multiscale modeling to accelerate innovation in contact lens materials
Nagoya and Sendai, Japan – June 10, 2026 – Menicon Co., Ltd. and Tohoku University announced today the completion of SilicoSim, a digital simulation platform for contact lens material design that integrates advanced experimental characterization with multiscale computational modeling.
Developed through the Menicon × Tohoku University Co-Creation Laboratory for Miru Mirai, SilicoSim is the result of a multidisciplinary collaboration that leverages Tohoku University’s leading expertise in materials characterization, computational science, and the use of advanced research infrastructure including the NanoTerasu synchrotron radiation facility. The platform enables researchers to digitally reproduce and analyze the relationships between nanoscale material structures and key functional properties of silicone hydrogel contact lens materials.
By combining Menicon’s knowledge of contact lens materials with Tohoku University’s strengths in measurement science and simulation technologies, the collaboration has established a new framework for data-driven material design and accelerated innovation in vision care.
Tohoku University’s Contribution
A distinguishing feature of the project is the integration of advanced experimental and computational technologies developed at Tohoku University.
Researchers utilized transmission electron microscopy (TEM), synchrotron-based characterization techniques, and multiscale simulations to reveal how nanoscale phase-separated structures within silicone hydrogels govern oxygen and ion transport. Through the combination of all-atom molecular dynamics simulations and coarse-grained modeling, the team successfully reproduced experimentally observed structures and transport behavior, providing new scientific insights into the mechanisms that determine material performance.
The project also represents one of the first outcomes of the Menicon × Tohoku University Co-Creation Laboratry for Miru Mirai, established in 2024 to advance digital transformation and sustainable innovation in contact lens research and development.
(a,b) Experimental Results: 3D-TEM Image Computational Results: Simulation
Figure 1. Three-Dimensional Bicontinuous Structure of Silicone Hydrogels
Figure 2. “SilicoSim”: A Structure–Function Simulation Platform for Contact Lens Materials
Joint Statement
“SilicoSim demonstrates the value of combining industrial expertise with cutting-edge academic research. By integrating advanced characterization technologies, synchrotron science, and multiscale simulations, we have created a platform that not only supports future product development but also advances the scientific understanding of soft contact lens materials.”
Publication Information
The scientific foundation of SilicoSim is described in the following peer-reviewed publication:
Title: 3D Morphology and Phase-Selective Transport in Amphiphilic Silicone Hydrogels: Experiments and Multiscale Simulations
Authors: Eri Ito, Yoshiaki Kawagoe, and Tomonaga Okabe
Journal: Soft Matter (Royal Society of Chemistry)
Published: May 26, 2026
DOI: 10.1039/D6SM00092D
URL：https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SM00092D
The study combines advanced experimental characterization techniques, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and synchrotron-based analysis, with multiscale simulations to reveal how nanoscale bicontinuous structures govern oxygen and ion transport in silicone hydrogel materials used for soft contact lenses. The findings provide the scientific basis for the development of SilicoSim and establish a new framework for data-driven contact lens material design.