NTU Reports Aryl Diazirine Photoinitiators with Low Cytotoxicity
An NTU team has reported aryl diazirine photoinitiators designed for water-based resins and reduced curing shrinkage in a peer-reviewed study.
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore have reported the use of aryl diazirines as photoinitiators in NPG Asia Materials. The paper was published on October 16, 2026. For the compounds and human-cell tests used in the study, the team reported low cytotoxicity and positioned the chemistry as a candidate response to the toxicity and poor water solubility associated with established photoinitiators.
According to the researchers, several compounds are liquid and water-soluble at room temperature, making them easier to incorporate into aqueous systems. The nitrogen released during curing can also be tuned to offset polymerization shrinkage. Demonstrations included 3D-printed microfluidic channels made with a soybean-oil-based resin and a watertight form-in-place gasket cured with a handheld UV light.
The work remains at the materials-research stage and does not establish the overall safety of commercial resins or finished products. Skin safety of complete uncured formulations, long-term exposure, production-scale quality, storage stability and compatibility with existing printers are not established by the announcement. The team identifies the move from laboratory results to industrial manufacturing as its next step.
Key facts
- The peer-reviewed paper was published in NPG Asia Materials on October 16, 2026
- The study evaluates aryl diazirine photoinitiators
- It reports water-soluble variants and tunable nitrogen release to address curing shrinkage
- Microfluidic channels were 3D printed using a soybean-oil-based resin
Context
The chemistry could broaden options for water-based and biomaterial photocuring, but commercialization will require full-formulation safety and scale-up validation.
