Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a prominent 3D printing modality that typically uses a polyamide (PA) powder as the substrate. One commercially available SLS material is known as PA2200, which is comprised of nylon 12 and titanium dioxide (TiO2) and is widely used to generate 3D-printed parts. Here, we report a unique optical photoluminescence (PL) characteristic of native, white PA2200, in which it yields a persistent, phosphorescence-type emission. An analysis of luminescence imaging data with emission measurements demonstrated that the anatase phase of the titanium dioxide additive is the source of the persistent PL properties. This characteristic of PA2200 enables advanced optical imaging applications, as demonstrated by luminescence imaging of an anatomical rat skeleton and a novel Derenzo-type phantom on a commercial image station. In summary, the light emission properties of PA2200 induced by the presence of anatase titanium dioxide open the door to a vast new array of complex optical applications, including the generation of imaging phantoms for training, calibration, and quality control.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.