Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tertiary amine co-initiators that demonstrate reduced leaching and which may be utilized in dental restoration and other biomedical applications. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide compounds and compositions for use in preparing polymers and light curable dental resin composites, as well as methods for preparing photocurable polymer-based dental restorative materials. In one or more disclosed embodiments, a co-initiator for use in preparing a polymer comprises a tertiary amine core and two or more pendant, terminal methacrylate groups. In some embodiments, the co-initiator may also act as a co-monomer in a co-polymerization reaction.