Irgacure 2959 emerges as an exceptionally efficient radical photoinitiator for the UV curing of various systems, including hydrogels and bioinks, without the undesirable yellowing effect. It demonstrates optimal activation when exposed to UV light at a wavelength of 365nm. Among the numerous photoinitiators proposed for hydrogel cell encapsulation and photocrosslinking, Irgacure 2959, also known as 2-hydroxy-4′-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-2-methylpropiophenone, has established itself as the most widely used option in cell encapsulation and tissue engineering applications.

Photopolymerizable hydrogels, created by exposing photosensitive polymers to UV light in the presence of photoinitiators, serve as vital materials in tissue engineering research, enabling cellular entrapment and patterning. The ability to achieve rapid chemical crosslinking is particularly crucial when developing hydrogels for cell encapsulation in tissue engineering and cell therapy endeavors.