Three-dimensional free-form fabrication (cross-linking or photo-polymerization) is already feasible using expensive commercial systems or ultra-fast lasers coupled to microscopes.  Recent advances using a relatively inexpensive setup involving an Nd3+-YAG laser have made these experiments accessible to smaller, predominantly undergraduate institutions.  Multiple parameters such as focus, laser intensity and frequency, exposure time, and photoactivator concentration have been optimized to minimize photodamage during the fabrication process.  Various proteins (serum albumins, lysozyme, fibrinogen) and polymers (acrylates) have been cross-linked with the ultimate goal of creating structures that will serve as models for various applications (drug delivery and tissue engineering) while minimizing photodamage and loss of bioactivity. The relationship between tryptophan accessibility and required photon flux for cross-linking has been investigated, and the nature of the interaction (long-range versus binding) between proteins and various photoactivators has been studied.

Multiphoton cross-linking of proteins and polymers using a low-cost home-built microscope

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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