Highly Selective Interfacial Route to Eight-Functional Sucrose Methacrylate for Biocompatible Scaffold Fabrication

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomaterials Science
• Organic Synthesis

Background:

• Reactive sucrose derivatives are crucial for creating advanced biocompatible polymers.
• Developing novel materials for bone tissue engineering requires precise control over polymer architecture and properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel octa-substituted sucrose derivatives for polymer development.
• To evaluate the potential of these sucrose-based materials for bone-substituting implants.
• To fabricate and characterize 3D printed structures using photocuring techniques.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized an octa-substituted sucrose derivative with isocyanate groups via phase-interface urethane-forming reaction.
• Converted the isocyanate derivative to an octa-functional methacrylate derivative.
• Characterized intermediates and products using IR, 1H NMR, and mass spectrometry.
• Fabricated 3D printed plates and scaffolds using photocuring, including two-photon 3D printing.

Main Results:

• Achieved up to 60% yield for the target sucrose derivative.
• Successfully created cross-linked networks from the methacrylate derivative.
• Fabricated 3D structures with high thermal stability and bone-like elastic properties.
• Demonstrated no toxic effects on cells, indicating good biocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• The developed sucrose-based methacrylate derivative is a promising precursor for biocompatible, 3D printable materials.
• The fabricated bone-substituting implants exhibit suitable mechanical and biological properties for potential clinical applications.
• This synthesis approach offers a selective and efficient route to functionalized carbohydrate-based polymers.