The photochemical degradation of poly(ketal)s and poly(acetal)s
using fast laser sources was shown for the first time. The degradation
was found to take place at very low energies, without the generation
of free radical intermediates and led to low molecular weight
by-products. The polymers (and their photoproducts) can be generally
-egarded as safe (GRAS) materials as they exhibit very low and
non-toxic photolysis rates and acceptable biocompatibility
in vitro.
Laser cell or tissue patterning/ablation techniques using the
proposed polymers could potentially be used in a variety of
applications in the biomedical field as they constitute an elegant
means of accurately controlling the spatial arrangement of distinct
cell populations on scaffolds aimed for tissue regeneration or onto
living tissues for wound healing, corneal repairing etc.

From: G. Pasparakis, Th. Manouras, A. Selimis, M. Vamvakaki
and P. Argitis, “Laser-Induced Cell Detachment and Patterning with Photodegradable Polymer Substrates“,
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.
50, 4142-4145 (2011).