19 Facts About Otto Wichterle

Otto Wichterle held a higher number of patents for organic synthesis, polymerization, fibres, the synthesis and shaping of biomedical materials, production methods and measuring devices related to biomedical products.

Wichterle's father, Karel, was co-owner of a successful farm-machine factory and small car plant but Otto chose science for his career.

Otto Wichterle graduated in 1936, and stayed at the university.

However, Otto Wichterle was able to join the research institute at Bata's works in Zlin and continue his scientific work.

At Bata's institute Otto Wichterle led the technical preparation of plastics, namely polyamide and caprolactam.

In 1941, Otto Wichterle's team invented the procedure to throw and spool polyamide thread, thus making the first Czechoslovak synthetic fiber under the name silon.

Otto Wichterle was imprisoned by the Gestapo in 1942 but was released after a few months.

Otto Wichterle wrote an inorganic chemistry textbook, the concept of which was ahead of its time, and wrote a German and Czech organic chemistry textbook.

From that time on, Otto Wichterle devoted himself to studying the synthesis of cross-linking hydrophilous gels, with the aim of finding a material suitable for use in permanent contact with living tissues.

Otto Wichterle thought pHEMA might be a suitable material for contact lenses and gained his first patent for soft contact lenses.

In 1957 Otto Wichterle produced around 100 soft lenses from closed polystyrene molds but the edges split and tore as the lenses were removed.

The Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences came into being in 1958, with Professor Otto Wichterle appointed its director.

Since the institute's building was under construction at that time, Professor Otto Wichterle conducted the decisive experiments to transform hydrogels into a suitable contact lens shape at his home.

Otto Wichterle made all the moulds and glass tubing needed to dose them with monomer.

Otto Wichterle tried the lenses in his own eyes and although they were the wrong power they were comfortable.

Otto Wichterle built several new prototype machines using Merkur toys, with increasing numbers of spindles which required the stronger motor taken from his gramophone.

Otto Wichterle came to be well-known beyond the frontiers of his country not only through his achievements but because of his activities in international organizations, chief among which was the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

Otto Wichterle took part in the preparations for its Prague symposia in 1957 and 1965, which were much applauded by participants; he had a hand in the inauguration of its fifth, macromolecular, division, of which he was to become the first president, and he gained further credit by combining within it what were for normal administrative purposes the separate fields of pure and applied chemistry.

Otto Wichterle was a member of a number of foreign academies of science, he received many awards and honorary doctorates from several universities.