3D printed glass-based biophotonic scaffolds for in situ activation of photoswitchable drugs

Evellyn Santos Magalhães; Nirajan Ojha; Sonya Ghanavati; Ekin Opar; Philippe F. Smet; Mika Lastusaari; Fabio Riefolo; Carlo Matera; Jonathan Massera; Pau Gorostiza; Laeticia Petit

doi:10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2025.117777

3D printed glass-based biophotonic scaffolds for in situ activation of photoswitchable drugs

Evellyn Santos Magalhães^*
, Nirajan Ojha
, Sonya Ghanavati
, Ekin Opar
, Philippe F. Smet
, Mika Lastusaari
, Fabio Riefolo
, Carlo Matera
, Jonathan Massera
, Pau Gorostiza^*
, Laeticia Petit

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

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Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Article number	117777
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of the European Ceramic Society
Volume	46
Issue number	2
Early online date	27 Aug 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2025.117777
Publication status	Published - Feb 2026
Publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

Bioactive glass
CaWO upconverter crystals
Persistent luminescence
Photoswitchable molecule
Scaffold

Publication forum classification

Publication forum level 2

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ceramics and Composites
Materials Chemistry

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10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2025.117777Licence: CC BY

3D printed glass-based biophotonic scaffolds for in situ activation of photoswitchable drugsFinal published version, 5.18 MBLicence: CC BY

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202510159912Licence: CC BY

Tampere Microscopy Center
Vippola, M. (Manager), Honkanen, M. (Operator) & Salminen, T. (Operator)
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Facility/equipment: Research infrastructure

Cite this

@article{ae060577c8244718b5c64794c428a884,

title = "3D printed glass-based biophotonic scaffolds for in situ activation of photoswitchable drugs",

abstract = "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.",

keywords = "Bioactive glass, CaWO upconverter crystals, Persistent luminescence, Photoswitchable molecule, Scaffold",

author = "Magalh{\~a}es, \{Evellyn Santos\} and Nirajan Ojha and Sonya Ghanavati and Ekin Opar and Smet, \{Philippe F.\} and Mika Lastusaari and Fabio Riefolo and Carlo Matera and Jonathan Massera and Pau Gorostiza and Laeticia Petit",

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year = "2026",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2025.117777",

language = "English",

volume = "46",

journal = "Journal of the European Ceramic Society",

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T1 - 3D printed glass-based biophotonic scaffolds for in situ activation of photoswitchable drugs

AU - Magalhães, Evellyn Santos

AU - Ojha, Nirajan

AU - Ghanavati, Sonya

AU - Opar, Ekin

AU - Smet, Philippe F.

AU - Lastusaari, Mika

AU - Riefolo, Fabio

AU - Matera, Carlo

AU - Massera, Jonathan

AU - Gorostiza, Pau

AU - Petit, Laeticia

PY - 2026/2

Y1 - 2026/2

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Bioactive glass

KW - CaWO upconverter crystals

KW - Persistent luminescence

KW - Photoswitchable molecule

KW - Scaffold

U2 - 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2025.117777

DO - 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2025.117777

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105014458401

SN - 0955-2219

VL - 46

JO - Journal of the European Ceramic Society

JF - Journal of the European Ceramic Society

IS - 2

M1 - 117777

ER -

3D printed glass-based biophotonic scaffolds for in situ activation of photoswitchable drugs

Abstract

Keywords

Publication forum classification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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Tampere Microscopy Center

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