Functional Acrylate Resins for Shape Memory Polymer Microarchitectures

Citation

Salzman, Erika Emmanuelle (2020) Functional Acrylate Resins for Shape Memory Polymer Microarchitectures. Senior thesis (Major), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/8870-1x03. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:06032020-220309895

Abstract

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are materials that can undergo programmable shape change in response to a specific stimulus. The ability to undergo this reliable, three-dimensional shape change makes SMPs promising smart materials for applications like biomedical stents and sutures. However, to access areas like blood vessels in the eye, these materials must be fabricated with micron or submicron resolution. In this work, benzyl methacrylate-based, heat-responsive SMP microstructures were fabricated using two-photon lithography in a variety of three-dimensional designs. The effects of different fabrication conditions on the structures were studied, and Raman spectroscopy was used to probe network properties, including degree of polymerization.

The resin was also chemically functionalized prior to polymerization with BOC-protected amine groups via the thiol-Michael addition reaction, which allows for attachment of other useful functional groups to the surface of the structures. This chemistry was utilized for attachment of a dye as well as gold nanoparticles. When exposed to laser light, these nanoparticles can undergo localized surface plasmon resonance and serve as heat generators. The theoretical feasibility of using this heating technique to induce shape change in SMP microstructures is examined in this work.

Thesis Files