Multiphoton lithography allows the high resolution, free-form 3D printing of structures such as micro-optical elements and 3D scaffolds for Tissue Engineering. A major obstacle in its application in these fields is material and structure autofluorescence. Existing photoresists promise near zero fluorescence at the expense of poor mechanical properties, and low printing efficiency. Sudan Black B is a molecular quencher used as a dye for biological studies and as means of decreasing the autofluorescence of polymers. In our study, we report the use of Sudan Black B both as a photoinitiator and as a post-fabrication treatment step, using the zirconium silicate SZ2080 for the development of a non-fluorescent composite. We use this material for the 3D printing of micro-optical elements, and meso-scale scaffolds for mesenchymal stem cell cultures. Our results show that the Sudan Black B photosensitive hybrid can be used for the fabrication of high resolution, highly transparent, autofluorescence-free microstructures.

中文翻译：

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用于多光子3D打印的低自发荧光透明复合材料

多光子光刻技术可以对组织工程进行微结构的高分辨率，自由形式的3D打印，例如微光学元件和3D支架。在这些领域中应用的主要障碍是材料和结构自发荧光。现有的光致抗蚀剂以差的机械性能和低的印刷效率为代价保证了接近零的荧光。苏丹黑B是一种分子猝灭剂，用作生物学研究的染料和降低聚合物自发荧光的手段。在我们的研究中，我们报告了将苏丹黑B既用作光引发剂又用作制造后的处理步骤，并使用硅酸锆SZ2080来开发非荧光复合材料。我们将这种材料用于微光学元件的3D打印，并将间质支架用于间充质干细胞培养。