High-Resolution 3D Laser Printing of Microalgae-Derived Materials for Photodynamic Therapy
6 affiliations
- 1Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials (IMSEAM, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, Heidelberg, Germany, 69120
- 2Universitat de València, Camino de Vera s/n, Valencia, Spain, 46022
- 3Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La FE, Avda Fernando Abril Martorell, Valencia, Spain, 46026
- 4Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, C/ Eduardo Primo Yúfera, 3, Valencia, Spain, 46012
- 5Instituto de Salud Carlos III
- 6Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC, Muelle de Taliarte s/n, Telde, Las Palmas, Spain, 35214
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers localized, controllable cancer treatment through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by light-activated photosensitizers. Three-dimensional (3D) printing of PDT-active materials has emerged as a powerful tool for fabricating customized structures with controlled architecture and composition. However, conventional PDT materials often require complex, multi-step syntheses with low yields. Consequently, integrating natural photosensitizers into biocompatible matrices represents a crucial step towards sustainable PDT. Here, microalgae-derived materials are investigated to fabricate high-resolution scaffolds via 3D laser printing while retaining the intrinsic photoactive properties of chlorophyll. Within these matrices, native chlorophyll derivatives fulfill a triple light-induced function: driving microalgal lipid biosynthesis, initiating additive-free 3D laser printing, and acting as immobilized photosensitizers. Fluorometric assays confirm robust ROS generation upon red-light irradiation of the 3D printed microalgae-derived material. The photodynamic efficacy of these scaffolds is evaluated in melanoma cells to demonstrate their therapeutic potential. In vitro studies reveal significantly reduced cell viability upon irradiation, while maintaining cytocompatibility under dark conditions. Furthermore, the microalgae-derived materials enable the fabrication of scaffolds with varied complex geometries and feature sizes while retaining photodynamic activity. These findings demonstrate a highly versatile, biobased strategy combining natural photosensitizers with 3D laser printing to produce functional platforms for precision PDT.
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BibTeX
@misc{vazquezmartel2026highresolution,
title = {{High-Resolution 3D Laser Printing of Microalgae-Derived Materials for Photodynamic Therapy}},
author = {Clara Vazquez-Martel and Sandra Clara-Trujillo and Carla Arnau del Valle and Lea Sielaff and Juan Luis Gomez Pinchetti and Ramon Martinez-Mañez and Eva Blasco},
howpublished = {ChemRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.26434/chemrxiv.15009941/v1},
url = {https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15009941/v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - High-Resolution 3D Laser Printing of Microalgae-Derived Materials for Photodynamic Therapy
AU - Clara Vazquez-Martel
AU - Sandra Clara-Trujillo
AU - Carla Arnau del Valle
AU - Lea Sielaff
AU - Juan Luis Gomez Pinchetti
AU - Ramon Martinez-Mañez
AU - Eva Blasco
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
PB - ChemRxiv
DO - 10.26434/chemrxiv.15009941/v1
UR - https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15009941/v1
AB - Photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers localized, controllable cancer treatment through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by light-activated photosensitizers. Three-dimensional (3D) printing of PDT-active materials has emerged as a powerful tool for fabricating customized structures with controlled architecture and composition. However, conventional PDT materials often require complex, multi-step syntheses with low yields. Consequently, integrating natural photosensitizers into biocompatible matrices represents a crucial step towards sustainable PDT. Here, microalgae-derived materials are investigated to fabricate high-resolution scaffolds via 3D laser printing while retaining the intrinsic photoactive properties of chlorophyll. Within these matrices, native chlorophyll derivatives fulfill a triple light-induced function: driving microalgal lipid biosynthesis, initiating additive-free 3D laser printing, and acting as immobilized photosensitizers. Fluorometric assays confirm robust ROS generation upon red-light irradiation of the 3D printed microalgae-derived material. The photodynamic efficacy of these scaffolds is evaluated in melanoma cells to demonstrate their therapeutic potential. In vitro studies reveal significantly reduced cell viability upon irradiation, while maintaining cytocompatibility under dark conditions. Furthermore, the microalgae-derived materials enable the fabrication of scaffolds with varied complex geometries and feature sizes while retaining photodynamic activity. These findings demonstrate a highly versatile, biobased strategy combining natural photosensitizers with 3D laser printing to produce functional platforms for precision PDT.
ER -