Dual-functional TiO₂-containing phosphate glass prepared by the liquid phase method: Ion release and photocatalysis

The objective of the work was to prepare dual-functional TiO₂-containing phosphate glasses to integrate ion-releasing ability and photocatalytic activity into a single material system. The glasses were prepared using the liquid phase method. The obtained glasses exhibited an amorphous structure and were composed of orthophosphate and pyrophosphate groups, which can therefore be classified as phosphate invert glasses. Structural analyses showed that titanium existed in both TiO₄ tetrahedral and TiO₆ octahedral coordination environments. The aging process promoted the formation of TiO₆-rich phases on the glass surface. Glasses that were heat-treated at 600°C exhibited partial crystallization of anatase TiO₂ while retaining the amorphous phosphate glass matrix. The heat-treated glass exhibited photocatalytic activity under UV irradiation, as confirmed by methylene blue degradation, while maintaining sustained ion release. Therefore, TiO₂-containing phosphate glasses exhibit dual functionality, combining therapeutic ion release and photocatalytic activity. The properties of the obtained glasses may stimulate beneficial physiological responses and provide antibacterial effects, supporting their potential application as dual-functional dental biomaterials.