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Abstract Two‐photon polymerization (TPP) is widely used to create 3D micro‐ and nanoscale scaffolds for biological and mechanobiological studies, which often require the mechanical characterization of the TPP fabricated structures. To satisfy physiological requirements, most of the mechanical characterizations need to be conducted in liquid. However, previous characterizations of TPP fabricated structures are all conducted in air due to the limitation of conventional micro‐ and nanoscale mechanical testing methods. In this study, a new experimental method is reported for testing the mechanical properties of TPP‐printed microfibers in liquid. The experiments show that the mechanical behaviors of the microfibers tested in liquid are significantly different from those tested in air. By controlling the TPP writing parameters, the mechanical properties of the microfibers can be tailored over a wide range to meet a variety of mechanobiology applications. In addition, it is found that, in water, the plasticly deformed microfibers can return to their predeformed shape after tensile strain is released. The shape recovery time is dependent on the size of microfibers. The experimental method represents a significant advancement in mechanical testing of TPP fabricated structures and may help release the full potential of TPP fabricated 3D tissue scaffolds for mechanobiological studies.
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This content will become publicly available on July 25, 2026
Toward Standardized Microscale Tensile Testing for Two‐Photon Polymerization‐Fabricated Materials in Liquid
Two‐photon polymerization (TPP) enables the fabrication of intricate 3D microstructures with submicron precision, offering significant potential in biomedical applications like tissue engineering. In such applications, to print materials and structures with defined mechanics, it is crucial to understand how TPP printing parameters impact the material properties in a physiologically relevant liquid environment. Herein, an experimental approach utilizing microscale tensile testing (μTT) for the systematic measurement of TPP‐fabricated microfibers submerged in liquid as a function of printing parameters is introduced. Using a diurethane dimethacrylate‐based resin, the influence of printing parameters on microfiber geometry is first explored, demonstrating cross‐sectional areas ranging from 1 to 36 μm2. Tensile testing reveals Young's moduli between 0.5 and 1.5 GPa and yield strengths from 10 to 60 MPa. The experimental data show an excellent fit with the Ogden hyperelastic polymer model, which enables a detailed analysis of how variations in writing speed, laser power, and printing path influence the mechanical properties of TPP microfibers. The μTT method is also showcased for evaluating multiple commercial resins and for performing cyclic loading experiments. Collectively, this study builds a foundation toward a standardized microscale tensile testing framework to characterize the mechanical properties of TPP printed structures.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2503605
- PAR ID:
- 10634098
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Small Science
- ISSN:
- 2688-4046
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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