A water-soluble two-photon photopolymerization initiation system: Methylated-β-cyclodextrin complex of xanthene dye/aryliodonium salt

An effective two-photon photopolymerization in an aqueous environment was done using a new water-soluble two-photon photopolymerization (TPP) initiation system. This system comprised a photosensitizer dye and the photoinitiator 4,4′-dimethyl diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate (DMDPI) encapsulated by methylated-β-cyclodextrin (Me-β-CD). Photochemical properties of the complex were studied in film. We proved that the complex can be used as an effective TPP photoinitiator for two-photon photopolymerization in an aqueous system. Three-dimensional microstructure was successfully fabricated by TPP.