Current Methods of Using Phthalocyanine: A Scoping Review

Background. Phthalocyanines are chemical compounds with unique electronic and optical properties that are used in various technological systems. They are non-toxic and have high photochemical efficiency. These substances find their application in various fields of science and technology from pigments to the treatment of various diseases. Purpose: This review is aimed at studying modern methods of phthalocyanine use. The review describes the most popular applications of these substances in science and technology. This is the first review in which an attempt is made to cover the scope of application in various fields quite broadly. It attempts to answer questions related to the actual use of phthalocyanines, as well as to find out how the frequency of using the COVID topic in articles in this area has changed. Methods: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR recommendations for the search and selection of studies. The search was conducted on the popular scientific database Scopus. Results: This review included 35 studies. The most common use of phthalocyanines was in the energy industry. They have also found their application in catalysis. Included studies have shown that phthalocyanines can be photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment. With the help of these unique substances, it is possible to quickly detect diseases in the human body. With the advent of coronavirus disease, they learned to create an antiseptic solution for gargling, which prevents the development of the disease. However, additional efforts are needed to transform the methods into clinical and technical applications. Conclusion: Studies have shown that at the moment phthalocyanines play an important role in science due to their extensive use in various fields. They can be useful both in household maintenance (pigment for creating tattoos) and an important component for the treatment of many diseases (therapy COVID-19, cancer treatment). This review also identified key research areas for the use of phthalocyanines for future research.