Photopolymers based on ethynyl-functionalized degradable polylactides by thiol-yne 'Click Chemistry'

- Ethynyl-ended polylactides with different architectures have been synthesized.
- Degradable polymeric networks have been prepared by a thiol-yne photoclick approach.
- 2D microstructures have been prepared by direct laser writing.
- Cell patterning has been explored.

This work reports the synthesis and characterization of a series of new degradable ethynyl-ended polylactides with different architectures. These ethynyl-functionalized polylactides were blended with a commercial low molar mass tetrathiol to prepare crosslinked polymeric networks by a thiol-yne photoclick reaction that was studied by infrared spectroscopy and photocalorimetry. Cell proliferation assays with human colorectal carcinoma cells showed that the resulting polymeric networks are not cytotoxic. Two-dimensional structures were prepared by patterned curing using direct laser writing of the photopolymerizable formulations. Preliminary cell tests on substrates provided with these polymeric structures demonstrate the possibility to generate cell patterns.

We have demonstrated the preparation of new crosslinked polymeric networks using ethynyl-functionalized polylactides and a commercial low molar mass tetrathiol by thiol-yne photoclick reaction. We have prepared two-dimensional structures using direct laser writing. The resulting materials are not cytotoxic and can be of interest for cell patterning.323