Abstract
A hydrophobic derivative of ciprofloxacin, hexanoylated ciprofloxacin (CPF-hex), has been used as a photoinitiator (PI) for two-photon polymerization (2PP) for the first time. We present, here, the synthesis of CPF-hex and its application for 2PP of methacrylate-terminated star-shaped poly (D,L-lactide), as well a systematic study on the optical, physicochemical and mechanical properties of the photocurable resin and prepared three-dimensional scaffolds. CPF-hex exhibited good solubility in the photocurable resin, high absorption at the two-photon wavelength and a low fluorescence quantum yield = 0.079. Structuring tests showed a relatively broad processing window and revealed the efficiency of CPF-hex as a 2PP PI. The prepared three-dimensional scaffolds showed good thermal stability; thermal decomposition was observed only at 314 °C. In addition, they demonstrated an increase in Young’s modulus after the UV post-curing (from 336 ± 79 MPa to 564 ± 183 MPa, which is close to those of a cancellous (trabecular) bone). Moreover, using CPF-hex as a 2PP PI did not compromise the scaffolds’ low cytotoxicity, thus they are suitable for potential application in bone tissue regeneration.
Highlights
The two-photon polymerization (2PP) technology allows real 3D printing at a sub100-nm resolution [1,2,3,4]
We have previously shown that three-dimensional scaffolds, based on a methacrylate-terminated star-shape polylactide and bis (diethylamino) benzophenone (Bis-b), are biocompatible and induce the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells toward the osteogenic lineage [21,23]
It can be concluded that, fluorescence-based techniques are prone to larger errors, when the fluorescence quantum yield is very small, the results show that the ciprofloxacin derivative exhibits a low fluorescence quantum yield
Summary
Hydrophobic Derivative of Ciprofloxacin as a New Photoinitiator of Two-Photon Polymerization:. World-Class Research Center “Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare”, Sechenov University, 8-2. Research Institute for Physical Chemical Problems of the Belarusian State University, Minsk, Belarus 14. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affil-
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