Biocompatible materials
A resin composition, the resin composition comprising a prepolymer ( 209 ) and optionally one or more diluent(s) (FIG. 3 A), the prepolymer ( 209 ) comprising repeating units having at least one carbonate linkage and at least one unsaturated side-chain, the at least one optional diluent(s) comprising at least one unsaturated side-chain, wherein either or both of the prepolymer ( 209 ) and the at least one optional diluent(s) comprises at least one O═C—N linkage, preferably a urethane linkage.
1. A resin composition, the resin composition comprising a prepolymer and at least one diluent, the prepolymer comprising repeating units having at least one carbonate linkage and at least one unsaturated side-chain, said at least one diluent(s) comprising at least one unsaturated side chain, wherein either the prepolymer comprises at least one O═C—N linkage or said at least one diluent comprises at least one O═C—N linkage but not both the prepolymer and said at least one diluent comprises at least one O═C—N linkage.
2. A resin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the prepolymer comprises at least one O═C—N linkage.
3. A resin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one O═C—N linkage is a urethane linkage.
4. A resin composition according to claim 1 , the prepolymer comprising repeating units having at least one carbonate linkage, at least one urethane linkage, and at least one unsaturated side-chain.
5. A resin composition according to claim 2 , further comprising a cross-linker, the cross-linker comprising a moiety that is capable of reacting with the at least one unsaturated side-chain of the prepolymer and/or the at least one diluent.
6. A resin composition according to claim 5 , wherein the cross-linker has the formula (vi):
7. A resin composition according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one diluent comprises plural unsaturated side-chains.
8. A resin composition according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one diluent is selected from the following (ii) to (v):
9. A resin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the prepolymer has the formula (vii):
wherein R group is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, R 1 is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, R 2 is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, R 3 is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, and R 4 is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, and wherein x is a number that is less than one hundred.
10. A resin composition, the resin composition comprising a prepolymer, the prepolymer comprising repeating units having at least one carbonate linkage and at least one unsaturated side-chain, wherein the prepolymer comprises at least one O═C—N linkage and has the formula (viii):
wherein R group is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, R 1 is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, R 2 is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, R 3 is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, and R 4 is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, and wherein x is a number that is less than one hundred.
11. A resin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the prepolymer is fabricated from components comprising the formulae (ix):
wherein R group is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, R 1 is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, R 2 is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, R 3 is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, and R 4 is an aliphatic or an aromatic moiety, and wherein x is a number that is less than one hundred.
12. A resin composition according to claim 5 , wherein the prepolymer is present in a quantity of between 10 and 100 w/w % of the total composition, the diluent is present in a quantity of between 0 and 50 w/w % of the total composition, and the cross-linker is present in a quantity of between 0 and 50 w/w % of the total composition.
13. A cross-linked polymer comprising a resin composition of claim 1 which has been cross linked.
14. A method of fabricating a cross-linked polymer, the method comprising:
i. providing a resin composition according to claim 1 .
15. A method according to claim 14 , comprising:
ii. contacting the resin composition with a initiator; and
iii. providing an energy source to activate the initiator.
16. A method according to claim 15 , comprising contacting the resin composition with a photoinitiator and exposing the resin composition to a light source, for example, UV light.
17. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the initiator is present in a quantity of between 0 and 5 w/w% of the total composition.
18. A method according claim 15 , comprising forming the cross-linked polymer by stereolithography.
19. A method according to claim 15 , the method further comprising step iv. providing a reagent for halogenation of the at least one unsaturated side chain.
20. A method according to claim 15 , further comprising a further step selected from one or more of the following group:
step v. providing a reagent for alkylation of the at least one unsaturated side chain;
step vi. providing a reagent for functionalising the at least one unsaturated side chain with a hydrophobic moiety;
step vii. providing a reagent for functionalising the at least one unsaturated side chain with a cell adhesion moiety.
21. A resin composition according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one diluent comprises at least one O═C—N linkage.
22. A resin composition, the resin composition comprising a prepolymer and at least one diluent, said at least one diluent(s) comprising at least one unsaturated side chain and at least one O═C—N linkage, the prepolymer comprising repeating units having at least one carbonate linkage and at least one unsaturated side-chain, wherein the prepolymer is fabricated by polymerisation of monomer 202 ;
and wherein the prepolymer comprises the repeating unit shown in formula;