Zwitterionic Photocurable Resin for High-Resolution 3D Printing of Ultralow-Fouling Microstructures

High-resolution 3D printing technologies are enabling a new generation of microstructured materials for applications where biocompatibility is critical. However, most conventional 3D-printable resins yield materials that exhibit trade-offs between antifouling properties and mechanical robustness, limiting their applicability in living systems. In nature, zwitterionic surface groups form tightly bound hydration layers that act as effective barriers against protein and cell attachment. Inspired by this strategy, a zwitterionic acrylamide-based photoresist-carboxybetaine di-methacrylamide (CBDA)-is developed for projection-based vat photopolymerization, enabling the fabrication of complex microarchitectures with exceptional antifouling properties. The bifunctional monomer allows the formation of dense, cross-linked networks that resist swelling while maintaining a high density of zwitterionic groups. Printed structures exhibit strong resistance to protein and cell adhesion, as confirmed by porcine blood assays, alongside robust mechanical performance. As a demonstration, a tubular structure featuring a negative Poisson's ratio lattice is printed to showcase structural fidelity and versatility. This resin formulation offers a broadly applicable strategy for fabricating microscale devices and surfaces where antifouling performance and structural integrity are both essential-spanning biomedical interfaces, soft robotics, and beyond.