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Two-Photon Polymerization: Fundamentals, Materials, and Chemical Modification Strategies
Seán O'Halloran1, Abhay Pandit2, Andreas Heise3,4,5
1CÚRAM, the SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|December 30, 2022
Summary
Two-photon polymerization (TPP) enables microscale fabrication of custom polymer devices. Advanced chemical modifications of TPP materials allow tailoring of properties for diverse applications like tissue engineering and drug delivery.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Two-photon polymerization (TPP) is a leading technique for microfabrication.
- Its applications span optical, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and microfluidic devices.
- Recent advancements include custom-designed monomers for tunable material properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the fundamentals of TPP, including its history and operating principles.
- To explore advanced chemical modification strategies for TPP materials.
- To provide an overview of commonly used photoresists and their applications.
Main Methods:
- Description of radical and cationic polymerization chemistries.
- Explanation of strategies for tailoring mechanical and functional properties.
- Introduction to various TPP systems and photoresist classes.
Main Results:
- Discussion of hard polyacrylic resins, soft hydrogel acrylic esters, epoxides, and hybrid materials.
- Examples of chemically modified photoresists and their specific uses.
- Highlighting applications in tissue engineering scaffolds, micromedical devices, optics, and drug delivery.
Conclusions:
- TPP is a versatile microfabrication method with expanding capabilities.
- Chemical modification of TPP materials is key to achieving desired functionalities.
- The review provides a comprehensive resource for understanding TPP and its applications.
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