Generation and surface functionalization of electro photographic toner particles for biomaterial applications

In this paper, we provide the investigation about the controlled surface functionalization of acrylic toner particles for electro photography (laser printing) with sodium hydroxide and the subsequent carbodiimide-mediated coupling of numerous functional amines onto the generated carboxylic group. Various chemically valuable functionalities, comprising of thiol, alkyne and azide, were bound onto the particles surface and allow for further versatile modifications via huisgen cycloaddition as well as thiol-ene reaction. The functionalization of the acrylic toner surface with alkyne, azide and carboxylic groups increased the cell viability up to 178 % ± 22 % and might offer an interesting path for new applications using common laser printing techniques.