Biodegradable Polymers for 3D Nano/Micro Lithography

Biodegradable polymers are increasingly important in medicine and modern technology. They are used in implants, surgical training models, engineered tissues, sensors, and wearable devices. Materials that can be printed in three dimensions are especially valuable because they allow extremely small and precise structures to be fabricated. However, many of the materials used today degrade poorly and offer limited options for tuning mechanical or biological properties. This project develops new, easily degradable and highly adaptable plastics for micro and nanoscale 3D printing. We use phosphorus-based building blocks that can be combined in different ways. This modular design allows us to adjust mechanical behavior, add biological functions, and control how the material breaks down. With a specialized laser-based printing method, these materials can be formed into tiny scaffolds smaller than a thousandth of a millimeter. These innovative structures can help researchers study how cells behave, bind therapeutic molecules, and mimic natural biological degradation. The project contributes to the development of advanced biomedical applications.