TY - JOUR A1 - Stajanca, Pavol A1 - Topolniak, Ievgeniia A1 - Pötschke, Samuel A1 - Krebber, Katerina T1 - Solution-mediated cladding doping of commercial polymer optical fibers N2 - Solution doping of commercial polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) polymer optical fibers (POFs) is presented as a novel approach for preparation of custom cladding-doped POFs (CD-POFs). The presented method is based on a solution-mediated diffusion of dopant molecules into the fiber cladding upon soaking of POFs in a methanol-dopant solution. The method was tested on three different commercial POFs using Rhodamine B as a fluorescent dopant. The dynamics of the diffusion process was studied in order to optimize the doping procedure in terms of selection of the most suitable POF, doping time and conditions. Using the optimized procedure, longer segment of fluorescent CD-POF was prepared and its performance was characterized. Fiber’s potential for sensing and illumination applications was demonstrated and discussed. The proposed method represents a simple and cheap way for fabrication of custom, short to medium length CD-POFs with various dopants. KW - Polymer optical fiber KW - Solution doping KW - Polymethyl methacrylate KW - Rhodamine B KW - Dye-doped fiber KW - Fluorescent optical fiber PY - 2018 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-441045 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yofte.2018.02.008 SN - 1068-5200 SN - 1095-9912 VL - 41 SP - 227 EP - 234 PB - Elsevier Inc. AN - OPUS4-44104 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Stajanca, Pavol A1 - Topolniak, Ievgeniia A1 - Pötschke, Samuel A1 - Krebber, Katerina ED - Kalli, K. ED - Mendez, A. ED - Bunge, C.-A. T1 - Solution doping of commercial plastic optical fibers N2 - Solution doping of off-the-shelf plastic optical fibers (POFs) represents rather simple and cheap way for preparing custom cladding-doped POFs (CD-POFs) with short to medium lengths. CD-POFs are especially attractive for environmental sensing applications, but might be of interest for illumination task as well. In this work, the proposed doping technique is tested with three different commercial low-cost polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) POFs; Eska CK-40 and Eska GK-40 from Mitsubishi Rayon and Raytela PGU-FB1000 from Toray. The aim of the work is to aid the selection of the most suitable fiber yielding highest optical quality of prepared CD-POFs. Firstly, the optimal doping times are determined for the individual fiber types using short fiber samples. Secondly, longer 10 m CD-POFs are prepared from all tested fibersusing the optimized doping procedure. Finally, attenuation of pristine POFs and prepared CD-POFs is measured using optical time domain reflectometry in order to characterize the impacts of the doping on fiber optical properties. In addition, the importance of post-doping drying procedure for CD-POF optical performance is investigated as well. The results suggest that, although doping of all tested fibers is generally feasible, Eska CK-40 is the most suitable candidate with regard to the Doping efficiency and fiber post-doping performance. T2 - SPIE Photonics Europe 2018 CY - Strasbourg, France DA - 22.04.2018 KW - Plastic optical fibers KW - Solution doping KW - Polzmethyl methacrylate KW - PMMA KW - Rhodamine B KW - Fluorescent optical fibers KW - Cladding-doped fibers PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2315619 SN - 0277-786X VL - 10681 SP - 106810O-1 EP - 106810O-7 AN - OPUS4-44907 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Bakenecker, A. A1 - Topolniak, Ievgeniia A1 - Lüdtke-Buzug, K. A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard A1 - Buzug, T. T1 - Additive manufacturing of superparamagnetic micro-devices for magnetic actuation N2 - 3D microstructures with sub-micron resolution can be manufactured in additive manner applying multi-photon laser structuring technique. This paper is focused on the incorporation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles into the photoresist in order to manufacture micrometer-sized devices featuring a magnetic moment. The aim of the project is to achieve untethered actuation of the presented objects through externally applied magnetic fields. Future medical application scenarios such as drug delivery and tissue engineering are targeted by this research. T2 - Additive Manufacturing Meets Medicine 2019 CY - Lübeck, Germany DA - 12.09.2019 KW - MPI KW - Two-Photon Polymerization KW - Magnetic swimmers KW - MPLS PY - 2019 UR - www.journals.infinite-science.de/ammm DO - https://doi.org/10.18416/AMMM.2019.1909S09T06 SP - 153 EP - 154 PB - Infinite Science Publishing AN - OPUS4-49114 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gladrow, K. A1 - Unkovskiy, A. A1 - Yassine, J. A1 - Gaertner, N. A1 - Topolniak, Ievgeniia A1 - Henning, N. A1 - Schmidt, F. T1 - The effect of nitrogen atmosphere during post-curing on cytotoxicity, polishability, flexural strength, and surface hardness of 3D-printed denture bases: an in vitro study N2 - 3D printing is increasingly utilized in dentistry. Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, 3D printing provides advantages such as faster production times and the ability to create complex structures. Although biocompatible materials are available, many are only suitable for temporary applications. This study examines the impact of nitrogen-aided post-processing on the mechanical properties and cytotoxicity of 3D-printed denture bases, with the hypothesis that this post-processing will enhance material properties and decrease cytotoxicity. Specimens were fabricated from V-print dentbase (Voco GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany) and post-processed either in nitrogen or air. The specimens were categorized into aged and non-aged groups. For comparison, specimens made from milled material were utilized. Vickers hardness, flexural strength, polishability, cytotoxicity, and degree of conversion were then assessed for all groups. The data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD test for multiple comparisons, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Post-curing with nitrogen improved the degree of conversion, surface hardness, and biocompatibility of 3D-printed dental materials, confirming reduced cytotoxicity without impairing mechanical properties. Nitrogen increased polymerization and decreased harmful monomers, making it ideal for clinical applications in contact with the oral mucosa. Optimizing post-processing steps, such as curing in nitrogen, enhances biocompatibility while maintaining strength and hardness, ensuring better patient care in dental applications. KW - Biocompatibility KW - V-Print KW - Cytotoxicity KW - Nitrogen KW - Dentistry PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-654504 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-026-07006-5 SN - 1573-4838 VL - 37 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-65450 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Topolniak, Ievgeniia A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Pfeifer, Dietmar A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Sturm, Heinz T1 - Boehmite Nanofillers in Epoxy Oligosiloxane Resins: Influencing the Curing Process by Complex Physical and Chemical Interactions N2 - In this work, a novel boehmite (BA)-embedded organic/inorganic nanocomposite coating based on cycloaliphatic epoxy oligosiloxane (CEOS) resin was fabricated applying UV-induced cationic polymerization. The main changes of the material behavior caused by the nanofiller were investigated with regard to its photocuring kinetics, thermal stability, and glass transition. The role of the particle surface was of particular interest, thus, unmodified nanoparticles (HP14) and particles modified with p-toluenesulfonic acid (OS1) were incorporated into a CEOS matrix in the concentration range of 1–10 wt.%. Resulting nanocomposites exhibited improved thermal properties, with the glass transition temperature (Tg) being shifted from 30 °C for unfilled CEOS to 54 °C (2 wt.% HP14) and 73 °C (2 wt.% OS1) for filled CEOS. Additionally, TGA analysis showed increased thermal stability of samples filled with nanoparticles. An attractive interaction between boehmite and CEOS matrix influenced the curing. Real-time infrared spectroscopy (RT-IR) experiments demonstrated that the epoxide conversion rate of nanocomposites was slightly increased compared to neat resin. The beneficial role of the BA can be explained by the participation of hydroxyl groups at the particle surface in photopolymerization processes and by the complementary contribution of p-toluenesulfonic acid surface modifier and water molecules introduced into the system with nanoparticles. KW - Real-time infrared spectroscopy KW - Boehmite KW - Nanocomposite KW - Cationic photocuring KW - Cycloaliphatic epoxy oligosiloxane KW - Epoxy conversion degree PY - 2019 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-479628 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12091513 VL - 12 IS - 9 SP - 1513 PB - MDPI AN - OPUS4-47962 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Silbernagl, Dorothee A1 - Szymoniak, Paulina A1 - Tavasolyzadeh, Zeynab A1 - Sturm, Heinz A1 - Topolniak, Ievgeniia T1 - Interpenetrating Polymer Networks with Tuned Thermal and Mechanical Properties by Multiphoton Lithography N2 - Multiphoton lithography (MPL) has recently attracted significant research interest as a versatile tool capable of fabricating 2D and 3D micro- and nanoscopic features with high spatial resolution. The integrity of MPL microstructures, or their ability to respond to external stimuli, is of critical importance. Often, the mechanically flexible micro-objects are expected to be capable of shape morphing, bending, or other motion to ensure their functionality. However, achieving the desired properties of MPL-manufactured micro components for a specific application still remains challenging. In this work, we present new MPL materials based on epoxy-acrylate interpenetrating networks (IPNs). We aim at fabrication 3D microstructures, whose properties can be easily tuned by varying the ratio of the IPN components and fabrication parameters. The studied mixtures consist of polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and cycloaliphatic epoxide functional groups. Consequently, tryarylsylfonium salt and cyclopentanone photoinitiator tailored for MPL were used to ensure cationic and radical polymerization, respectively. The resulting library of 3D microstructures was investigated for their thermal and mechanical properties using highly sensitive space-resolved methods. For the first time, we were able to evaluate the glass transition behavior of 3D MPL microstructures using fast scanning calorimetry. The influence of both IPN composition and fabrication parameters on glass transition temperature and material fragility was demonstrated. AFM force-distance curve and intermodulation methods were used to characterize the micromechanical properties with lateral resolution of the techniques in the range of 1 micron and 4 nm, respectively. The elastic-plastic behavior of the microarchitectures was evaluated and explained in terms of IPN morphology and thermal properties. The fabricated 3D IPN microstructures exhibit higher structural strength and integrity compared to PEGDA. In addition, IPNs exhibit high to full elastic recovery (up to 100%) with bulk modulus in the range of 4 to 6 MPa. This makes IPNs a good base material for modeling microstructures with intricate 3D designs for biomimetics and scaffold engineering. The effects of composition and MPL microfabrication parameters on the resulting IPN properties give us a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and microfabrication-structure-property relationships. Moreover, our funding supports the further development of IPN systems as versatile and easily tunable MPL materials. T2 - Material Research Society Meeting CY - Boston, Massachusetts, USA DA - 26.11.2023 KW - Multiphoton Lithography KW - Two-photon polymerisatio KW - Interpenetrating polymer network PY - 2023 SP - 1 AN - OPUS4-59382 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Silbernagl, Dorothee A1 - Szymoniak, Paulina A1 - Tavasolyzadeh, Zeynab A1 - Sturm, Heinz A1 - Topolniak, Ievgeniia T1 - Interpenetrating networks with tuned thermal and mechanical properties N2 - Multiphoton lithography (MPL), an emerging microfabrication technique, shows great potential in a variety of applications ranging from tissue engineering to soft micro-robotics. Fabricated micro-objects often are expected to undergo shape morphing or bending. Furthermore, ensuring precise property tuning becomes detrimental for the functionality of MPL microstructures. Herein, we present novel MPL materials based on interpenetrating networks (IPNs), which effectively combine the advantages of acrylate and epoxy thermoset systems. A library of 3D MPL IPN microstructures with high 3D structural stability and tailored thermal and micromechanical properties is achieved. MPL laser velocity and fabrication power can be used to tune the morphology and therefore properties of IPN. New IPN microstructures with materials Young's moduli of 4 to 6 MPa demonstrate susceptibility to deformation with high to fully elastic response. Such soft elastic materials hold immense promise within morphable microsystems, soft micro-robotics and cell engineering applications. T2 - RSC Poster conference CY - Online meeting DA - 05.03.2024 KW - Multiphoton lithography KW - Interpenetrating polymer networks KW - AFM PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60060 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Topolniak, Ievgeniia T1 - Novel Boehmite-embedded organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposite: cure behaviour, morphology and thermal properties N2 - Hybrid materials have attracted growing interest during the last decade, particularly due to their extraordinary properties. Cycloalyphatic-epoxy oligosiloxane (CEO) resin was shown to be a good candidate as a barrier material for the encapsulation purposes. Incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles such as Boehmite (BA) into polymers was observed to modify their specific characteristics, in particular, thermal, thermo-oxidative and barrier ones. In this work, novel BA-embedded organic inorganic hybrid nanocomposite material was engineered by combining the advantageous properties of hybrid polymers and nanoparticle enhancement effect. Impacts of particles on the photocuring kinetics, degree of crosslinking and the resultant changes in the thermal properties of the cured films were investigated. CEO synthesis via condensation reaction was confirmed by 1H and 29Si NMR. The particle distribution within the films was verified by SEM including transmission mode coupled with EDX elemental analysis. Photocuring kinetics and thermal properties of the films were studied by in situ FTIR spectroscopy and DSC with TGA, respectively. T2 - Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 11.03.2018 KW - Boehmite KW - Nanocomposite KW - Cycloalyphatic epoxy oligosiloxane KW - CEO PY - 2018 AN - OPUS4-44520 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Topolniak, Ievgeniia T1 - Direct laser writing of mussel inspired polydopamine N2 - Polydopamine (PDA) is one of the simplest and most versatile approaches for forming an excellent binding exterior to confer new functionalities to nearly any material surface. Inspired by nature, it mimics the behavior of mussels and can be easily deposited on virtually all types of inorganic and organic substrates, including superhydrophobic surfaces. Moreover, PDA exhibits high potential for surface modification and diversified secondary reactions that makes it extremely interesting for a wide range of application including biomedical field, e.g., drug delivery, adhesives, cell adhesion, biosensing. PDA has undergone significant expansion in its applications and is one of the most attractive areas within the materials field. Nevertheless, PDA integration in microdevices is still constrained by poor spatial and temporal control of excited deposition methods. Herein, we demonstrate a novel maskless approach for PDA micropatterning based on Direct Laser Writing that overcomes present limitations. The pattern is formed upon exposure of the dopamine solution by light produced by tightly-focused fs NIR laser that scans substrate surface accordingly to the selected pattern design. Neither strong oxidants, metal ions nor adjusting pH to alkaline is required by this technique to perform dopamine polymerization. Our method achieves the PDA micropatterns with the spatial resolution of 0.8 µm, at least an order of magnitude smaller than what is possible with other PDA microplanning techniques. Some examples of PDA patterns are shown in Figure 1. The here introduced PDA deposition technique will uniquely unravel applications of polydopamine and other catecholamine-based mussel-inspired materials in various multifunctional systems and microdevices (e.g., MEMS elements, microfluidics). The chemical nature of PDA was confirmed by locally recorded vibrational and x-ray photoelectron spectra. Moreover, the morphology and thickness of PDA microstructure can be controlled by the laser power and scanning velocity revealing the possibility of fabricating the structures with gradient. In most of the applied conditions the increase of the laser intensity and decrease of the scanning velocity would lead to the thicker PDA pattern. Different morphologies from smooth and bulky-like to grain like has been obtained. PDA was produced in the presence of tris buffer, phosphate buffer and DI water only. We also tested the effect of the solution pH applying pH 6.0, 7.0 and 8.5. Furthermore, the effect of antioxidants and purging of the solution with oxygen and nitrogen was investigated. Summarizing, we could see that the structures could be produced in all the given conditions, however their thickness and quality, morphology and roughness would differ. We did not observe negative impact of the antioxidants and nitrogen purging on the performance of PDA build up indicating that the PDA formation mechanism is different to common autooxidation. The current mechanism is based on the interaction of dopamine molecules with the photoinitiator added to solution as active to DLW laser light component. Apart from the glass substrate, we achieved PDA patterning at surfaces of different nature such as polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, polyethylene terephthalate, silicon wafers, and fluorinated glass coverslips. We also performed facile posts-modification of the PDA surface with protein enzymes like trypsin that was confirmed by XPS. Obtained bioactive pattern could be further integrated in the protein sensing devices. Presented in this work DLW-based microfabrication technique and the possibilities for further PDA surface post-functionalization empowers advanced applications of this material in single-molecule bioassays, sensors and other complex microdevices. T2 - MNE EUROSENSORS CY - Leuven, Belgium DA - 19.09.2022 KW - Polydopamine KW - Two-photon polymerisation KW - Micropatterning PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-56421 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Topolniak, Ievgeniia T1 - Reinforced UV curable cycloaliphatic epoxy oligosiloxane resin nanocomposite for coating applications N2 - Coating materials are nowadays often required to deliver not only sufficient barrier performance and suited optical appearance but a broad range of other functional properties. The incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) is known to improve many key characteristics and provide new functionalities in polymer materials. Presented work aims to prepare and characterize an organic-inorganic coating material designed to bring together advantageous properties of hybrid materials and reinforcement effect delivered from the inorganic NPs embedment. Siloxane-based hybrid resins hold great advantages as coating materials as their properties can be tuned between those of polymers and those of glasses, thus, the compositions with superior thermal and mechanical properties can be achieved. We used Cycloaliphatic Epoxy Oligosiloxane (CEOS) resin as a polymeric matrix where the network formation was achieved by UV induced cationic polymerisation. Boehmite Alumina (BA) nanoparticles were added to CEOS resin as a reinforcing agent and resultant material was processed into films either by bar-coating or by spin-coating depending on further characterization procedure. Two different types of BA NPs, hydrophilic and organophilic, were used in order to assess the impact of particles surface on the resin characteristics. CEOS synthesis by condensation reaction was confirmed using 13C and 29Si NMR. Changes in CEOS photocuring process, resulting from particles incorporation, were monitored by real-time IR spectroscopy. At the same time, the thermal behaviour was evaluated by DSC and TGA methods. Morphology of the coatings was investigated by means of SEM operated in transmission mode. It was observed that BA presence increased the epoxy conversion degree and glass transition temperature. Material formulations providing best film characteristics were determined with regard to the particle type and loading. Compared to the hydrophilic nanoparticles, organophilic BA NPs yield superior overall performance of the foils. T2 - HYMA Conference CY - Sitges, Spain DA - 11.03.2019 KW - Cycloalyphatic epoxy oligosiloxane KW - Nanocomposite KW - Boehmite KW - Photocuring PY - 2019 AN - OPUS4-47641 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -