Anatase Titanium Dioxide Imparts Photoluminescent Properties to PA2200 Commercial 3D Printing Material to Generate Complex Optical Imaging Phantoms

Abstract

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.

3D printing of bone and cartilage with polymer materials

“…Polyamide, commonly known as nylon, is a common medical polymer with high polarity and exhibits excellent properties in terms of biocompatibility ( Dann et al, 2021 ). The polyamide 66/nano-hydroxyapatite composite material combines the excellent properties of the two materials, has good mechanical properties, and has the biological activity of hydroxyapatite, which has great potential in the treatment of bone defects by 3D printing ( Helal et al, 2022 ).…”