Novel CaO-SiO₂-P₂O₅ Nanobioglass Activated with Hafnium Phthalocyanine

Bioactive glasses are materials which can be used in medicine for regeneration of hard and soft tissues. Their functionalization with active molecules or addition to composites broaden significantly the possible range of glass applications. Hereby, we describe photoactive nanoparticles of CaO-SiO₂-P₂O₅ glass modified with dichlorohafnium (IV) phthalocyanine. The low-temperature, sol-gel based reverse micelle method was proposed for the synthesis, which allowed introduction of metal organic molecules into the glass composition. The morphology, structure, and composition of the material was described showing that spherical but agglomerated glass nanoparticles (size below 100 nm) were obtained in the ternary system. It was also shown that optical properties of the phthalocyanine complex were maintained after immobilization of the dye in the glass. The photoluminescence and generation of singlet oxygen molecules were observed under the light irradiation of the glass.