Eco conscious synthesis of poly(tetramethylene itaconate) emphasizing inhibitor free and solvent free sustainability

Artificial tissues and organs can be obtained through a modern material processing method - 3D printing. In this method, 3D printing inks are used. Those are most commonly made of polyacrylates which show several undesirable characteristics. Their monomers are petroleum-based compounds that exhibit toxicity, and the final 3D printing ink is often characterized by inadequate viscosity, which hinders printing. Here, we show the potential 3D printing ink synthesis - fully biobased poly(tetramethylene itaconate). It was synthesized from itaconic acid and 1,4-butanediol with the addition of different catalysts. The primary objective was to produce a green product suitable as a bio-ink for bioprinting without toxic additives. We have recognized the main reasons for the undesired reactions during the synthesis of poly(tetramethylene itaconate). Our results demonstrate how the selected catalyst's type and content, temperature, and reaction time play a significant role in finding the optimum synthesis conditions. We anticipate our essay as a starting point for more sophisticated research - polymer 3D printing and cellular research.