3D printed glass-based biophotonic scaffolds for in situ activation of photoswitchable drugs
: Magalhães, Evellyn Santos; Ojha, Nirajan; Ghanavati, Sonya; Opar, Ekin; Smet, Philippe F.; Lastusaari, Mika; Riefolo, Fabio; Matera, Carlo; Massera, Jonathan; Gorostiza, Pau; Petit, Laeticia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
: 2026
: Journal of the European Ceramic Society
: 117777
: 46
: 2
: 0955-2219
: 1873-619X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2025.117777
: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2025.117777
: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/500391530
The fabrication of porous biophotonic scaffold using a robocasting is reported here. Such material could be used for in-situ activation of photoswitchable drugs, which is essential for improving therapeutic efficacy while minimizing side effects. The scaffold is made of a phosphate glass mixed with CaWO₄:Yb³ ⁺,Tm³ ⁺ crystals and SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺,Dy³ ⁺ phosphors. Upon 980 nm irradiation, the scaffold emits blue light and green afterglow, enabling in-situ activation post-implantation as NIR light penetrates tissue. The challenges related to the sintering process and its effect on the spectroscopic properties of the scaffold are discussed. The as-3D printed scaffold successfully enables one to activate the muscarinic photoswitchable drug Phthal Azobenzene Iperoxo (PAI) upon NIR excitation, confirming the potential for in-situ phototriggered delivery of drug action using tissue-permeable light stimulus.
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This work was supported by Research Council of Finland [Flagship Program, Photonics Research and Innovation PREIN-320165; MAXHEAL project: #361159]. This research has also received funding from the European Union’s HORIZON-EIC-2023 PATHFINDER- OPEN-01 programme under grant agreement No. 101130883; from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme (the Human Brain Project SGA3, 945539 and DEEPER, 101016787); project DEEPRED with reference PID2019-111493RB-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/ 501100011033; project EPILLUM with reference PID2022- 142609OB-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/ 501100011033 and by FEDER, UE; SGR-Cat 2021 with reference 2021 SGR 01410 (AGAUR, Generalitat de Catalunya); Research Network in Biomedicine eBrains-Spain, RED2022–134823-E. IBEC is a recipient of the Severo Ochoa Award of Excellence from MICIU. E. O. is supported by the FPI fellowship PRE2020–092901 financed by MICIU/AEI. P. F. S. acknowledges the Research Fund at Ghent University (BOF grant bof/baf/4y/2024/01/037).
