Photoactivated reversible deactivation radical polymerization for 3D direct laser writing

Photoactivated Reversible Deactivation Radical Polymerization (RDRP) technologies have emerged very recently in the field of 3D printing systems especially at the macroscale in vat-photopolymerization-based processes such as digital light processing (DLP). Contrary to conventional free radical photopolymerization, photoRDRP in 3D printing leads to 3D objects with living character and thus confers them the unique ability to be post-modified after fabrication. While 3D direct laser writing (3D DLW) by two-photon polymerization has become a standard for fabrication of complex 3D micro-objects, the use of photoRDRP and its associated benefits has so far been under investigated at that scale. In this communication, I will present our recent results in this field, highlighting the key role of (macro-)photoinitiator in photopolymerization and their importance to open new perspectives in multi-material and 4D micro-printing.