Formation of Degradable Photoantimicrobial Materials via Light Induced 3D Printing

Descrizione del progetto

Stampa 3D indotta dalla luce per materiali antimicrobici degradabili

La stampa 3D indotta dalla luce (L3DP) si distingue per l’uso di energia pulita, l’alta risoluzione e la precisione, che la rendono adatta ad applicazioni nella ricerca medica, come l’esplorazione di materiali antimicrobici. Sostenuto dalle Azioni Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA), il progetto PhotoAntiMic3DP intende sfruttare la terapia fotodinamica antimicrobica (aPDT), che sfrutta l’interazione tra un fotosensibilizzatore e la luce. Questo approccio offre un’alternativa ai materiali antimicrobici che faticano a tenere il passo con l’evoluzione della resistenza dei microbi. Data la necessità di strategie di lotta diverse per affrontare questa sfida, il progetto integrerà la ftalocianina di zinco come fotosensibilizzatore in materiali 3D per conferire proprietà foto-antimicrobiche degradabili. Questa capacità è resa possibile dalla dibenzazapina e dal triazolinedione, che subiscono reazioni reversibili con la luce e le soluzioni tampone.

Obiettivo

It has been an ongoing requirement for humankind to access useful objects or to provide the missing part of damaged products. 3D printing (3DP) has become popular by completing these deficiencies in a very short time and low cost. Its many derivatives are available, however, it is a necessity to choose suitable modules and inks that fulfill the needs of in todays world. Energy consumption of the world is increasing rapidly and this concept should be carefully considered in every step to be taken from social life to industrial life. Thus, light-induced 3D printing (L3DP) stands out with its features such as using clean energy source, high resolution and accuracy. Nonetheless, substantial effort is necessary to identify and put into action suitable photochemical interactions for this objective. Significantly, the selection of these interactions must be carried out carefully since the resulting materials should meet other contemporary demands; such as Recyclability. Dibenzazapine (DBA) and triazolinedione (TDA) are important molecules capable of giving light-induced reactions. Their reversible reactions with light and buffer solutions offer them the advantage to form degradable products and they can be promising candidates for L3DP. On the other hand, following the impact of COVID-19, the medical industry has reached a pivotal moment where the significance of antimicrobial materials has been better understood. However, the developed materials cannot keep up with the resistance rate of microbes and different combat strategies are necessity to cope with them. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is method which is utilized the interaction between photosensitizer (PS) and light, and it can be strong alternative for this purpose. In this context; zinc phthalocyanine as photosensitizier will be incorporated into 3D materials to obtain degradable photoantimicrobial properties thanks to DBA and TAD photochemical reactions.