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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
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Polymer Microarrays for High Throughput Discovery of Biomaterials
Published on: January 25, 2012
Molecular Design of Biobased, Printable Monomers for Two-Photon Polymerization
Monika Dabrowska1, Brandon Tuck2, Evan Shelton1
1School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|June 27, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed novel biobased monomers from renewable terpenes for high-precision 3D printing using two-photon polymerization (2PP). This advancement enables the creation of intricate micro- and nano-scale structures with enhanced resolution and surface quality.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- Two-photon polymerization (2PP) is a high-precision 3D printing technique for micro/nano-scale structures.
- The availability of biobased monomers for 2PP is limited, with most derived from petrochemical sources.
- Terpenes and terpenoids are abundant, renewable natural compounds with potential for monomer development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To strategically design and synthesize novel multi-acrylate monomers from terpenoids (nopol and verbenol).
- To evaluate the suitability of these biobased monomers for additive manufacturing (AM) resins using 2PP.
- To establish structure-property relationships for optimized monomer design in 2PP.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of multi-acrylate monomers with varying vinyl group numbers and positions from nopol and verbenol.
- Evaluation of monomer performance in 2PP-based AM.
- Characterization of printed structures using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of novel biobased monomers derived from renewable terpenes.
- Demonstrated successful 2PP of structures with uniform composition, smooth surfaces, and finely resolved features.
- Identified specific molecular designs that enhance AM processing success.
Conclusions:
- Terpene-derived monomers offer a promising platform for creating advanced biobased materials for 2PP.
- Strategic molecular design is crucial for optimizing monomer performance in AM.
- This work expands the range of sustainable monomers for high-resolution 3D printing applications.
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