New IP-PDMS photoresin

Elastic biocompatible printing material for various applications

Nanoscribe introduces IP-PDMS, the new photoresin for 3D freeform printing of elastomers by Two-Photon Polymerization (2PP). Soft, highly flexible and elastic: These are the main characteristics of the new printing material. This opens up new fabrication strategies in various fields such as microfluidics, life sciences and MEMS.

Flexible material meets flexibility in design

The IP-PDMS photoresin is designed for applications that rely on elastomer-typical material properties: softness, flexibility, elasticity and biocompatibility. These characteristics pave the way for the new photoresin to be used for a wide range of applications, such as 3D-printed cell scaffolds and tissue engineering, 3D-structured surfaces, microfluidic devices or microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). IP-PDMS is optimized for Nanoscribe’s 3D printer and compatible with the 3D Microfabrication Solution Set Medium Features.

Highly elastic material with a Young’s modulus about three orders of magnitude lower than IP-S
Low refractive index photoresin
Non-cytotoxic according to ISO 10993-5 / USP 87
Highly flexible material for a wide range of applications

Mechanical properties
boost new applications

With a Young’s modulus of 15.3 MPa, the new, flexible photoresin is about three orders of magnitude more elastic than other 2PP printing materials such as IP-S. Furthermore, IP-PDMS features high flexibility and elastic properties. An evidence for the photoresin’s flexibility is its tensile elongation at break of more than 240 percent. The interplay of these mechanical characteristics paired with its low refractive index, chemical inertness and gas permeability are well-known for standard PDMS.

The new IP-PDMS comprises all these characteristics and together with the versatility of Nanoscribe’s 3D Microfabrication technology and solutions, it promises novel applications and devices in life sciences, microfluidics and micromechanics. Thus, the design and manufacturing of microfluidics with freeform features and the realization of 3D-microstructured functional surfaces in one printing step become possible.

Dr. René Hensel, Leibniz INM, Institute for New Materials, Saarbrücken

IP-PDMS, as a 3D printable material, is highly interesting for micropatterned functional surfaces. We can skip time-consuming molding steps to transfer designs into elastomers and new designs become feasible.

Biocompatible elastomers
for life sciences

The silicone-based elastomer IP-PDMS shares the material properties for which conventional PDMS is known, but is developed specifically for the requirements of 2PP-based 3D printing. This makes the new IP-PDMS the optimal photoresin for the high-precision additive manufacturing of soft, flexible and elastic 3D microstructures.
Combined with its non-cytotoxic properties, tested according to ISO standards, IP-PDMS paves the way for new 3D-printed applications in life sciences and biology. The new photoresin is beneficial for elastic freeform cell scaffolds or 3D designs mimicking the natural characteristics of soft tissue.

IP-PDMS printed octahedrons — 3D-printed octahedron arrays. A single element of these features has an outer diameter of 50 µm. IP-PDMS has enormous potential for life science applications such as soft cell cages or 3D cell culture scaffolds. Image: Wegener group, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

The properties of IP-PDMS in comparison

The new IP-PDMS
Think flexible. Print nano.

3D-printed array of cuboids using IP-PDMS — Close-up view of IP-PDMS printed micro-cones.

Array of micro-cones. IP-PDMS can be printed on different scales and offers a new, direct fabrication strategy for functional surfaces.

Octahedron with an outer diameter of 50 µm. The soft and flexible properties of IP-PDMS are ideal for cell and tissue engineering. Image: Wegener group, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

Array of Octahedrons. — Array of octahedrons. Each element with an outer diameter of 50 µm. Image: Wegener group, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

3D-printed array of cuboids with different block sizes. The new IP-PDMS resin paves the way for applications material engineering.

Close-up view of IP-PDMS printed cuboids. The new resin enables new possibilities in the field of microfluidics.

Are you looking for
further high-precision printing materials?

Nanoscribe’s IP Photoresins are proven printing materials for high-precision 3D Microfabrication by Two-Photon Polymerization (2PP). The product line presents a broad range of negative-tone, (meth)acrylate-based resins designed for nano-, micro-, and mesoscale structures.

Explore Nanoscribe photoresins

Properties	IP-PDMS	IP-S
Young’s modulus* [MPa]	15.3	2100
Tensile elongation at break** [%]	> 240	n. a.
Refractive index at 589 nm, 20°C	1.45	1.51
Biocompatibility (DIN ISO 10993-5)	Non-cytotoxic	Non-cytotoxic

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New IP-PDMS photoresin

Elastic biocompatible printing material for various applications

Flexible material meets flexibility in design

Mechanical properties boost new applications

Biocompatible elastomers for life sciences

The properties of IP-PDMS in comparison

The new IP-PDMS Think flexible. Print nano.

Are you looking for further high-precision printing materials?

Mechanical properties
boost new applications

Biocompatible elastomers
for life sciences

The new IP-PDMS
Think flexible. Print nano.

Are you looking for
further high-precision printing materials?