Azaphthalocyanine group

Our research group focuses on a wide range of aspects related to phthalocyanines and their analogues from the groups of azaphthalocyanines or BODIPY dyes. The group's work is based on long-term, effective cooperation between Petr Zimčík's group and Veronika Novakova's group ("SPs-HEAT team"). Together, we investigate synthetic approaches, photophysical and photochemical behavior of macrocycles for several applications. In recent years, we have focused also on supramolecular assembly into J-dimers.

News

• January 2026: PhD position available in our group !!! We are looking for a motivated student for a PhD project dealing with investigation of supramolecular assembly of phthalocyanines and their derivatives into J-dimers (see detailes here). Deadline for applications - 30^th April 2026. 

• January 2025: Nidhi Nehra joined our team as a posdoc. Welcome :)

• April 2024: Posdoc position  available in our group !!! See details: Job Opening: FaF_VZ1_23: Researcher (junior), 0,8 FTE (project NETPHARM) | Farmaceutická fakulta Univerzity Karlovy (cuni.cz) Deadline for applciations 15th May 2024.

• July 2023: Veronika Novakova succeeded with her project entitled "Smart photosensitizers: highly-efficient, activatable and aptamer-targeted (SPs-HEAT)" in the prestigious ERC-CZ. The aim of this programme is to support breakthrought czech projects that have succeeded in the European Research Council ("ERC") call for proposals and got A or B in the second round. Congrats!

• July 2022: Veronika Novakova was honoured with the SPP/JPP Young Investigator Award in 2022 by Society of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines. Congrats!

• for the news archives click here

Selected publications

• Demuth J, Bednarik S, Machan R, Mocak I, Malinsky T, Dahab MAE, Holcak J, Miletin M, Labuta J, Novakova  V, Zimcik P, J-dimers of phthalocyanine analogues: structural characterization and their use for determination of association constants between ligands and central cation, Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers, 2025, 12, 1590 - 1608

• Bednarik S, Demuth J, Kernal J, Miletin M, Zimcik P, Novakova V, Tuning Electron-Accepting Properties of Phthalocyanines for Charge Transfer Processes, Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 63, 19, 8799–8806.

• Kociscakova L, Rando C, Kozlikova M, Machacek M, Novakova V, Šindelář V, Zimcik P, Monomerization of Phthalocyanines in Water via Their Supramolecular Interactions with Cucurbiturils, The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2023, 88, 2, 988–1002.

• Kostelansky F, Miletin M, Havlinova Z, Szotakova B, Libra A, Kucera R, Novakova V, Zimcik P, Thermal stabilisation of the short DNA duplexes by acridine-4-carboxamide derivatives, Nucleic Acids Research, 2022, 50, 18, 10212-10229.

• Demuth J, Gallego L, Kozlikova M, Machacek M, Kucera R, Torres T, Martinez-Diaz MV, Novakova V, Subphthalocyanines as efficient photosensitizers with nanomolar photodynamic activity against cancer cells, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2021, 64, 23, 17436–17447.

• Kollar J, Machacek M, Halaskova M, Lenco J, Kucera R, Demuth J, Rohlickova M, Hasonova K, Miletin M, Novakova V, Zimcik P, Cationic Versus Anionic Phthalocyanines for Photodynamic Therapy: What a Difference the Charge Makes, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry,  2020, 63, 7616-7632. 

• Cidlina A, Miletin M, Fathi-Rasekh M, Nemykin V, Zimcik P, Novakova V, OFF-ON-OFF Red-Emitting Fluorescent Indicators for a Narrow pH Window, Chemistry - A European Journal, 2017, 23, 8, 1795-1804. 

• Donzello MP, Ercolani C, Novakova V, Zimcik P, Stuzhin PA, Tetrapyrazinoporphyrazines and Their Metal Derivatives. Part I: Synthesis and Basic Structural Information, Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 2016; 309: 107-179.

• Machacek M, Demuth J,  Cermak P, Vavreckova M, Hruba L, Jedlickova A, Kubat P, Simunek T, Novakova V, Zimcik P, Tetra(3,4-pyrido)porphyrazines caught in the cationic cage: toward nanomolar active photosensitizers, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2016, 59 (20): 9443–9456.

• Novakova V, Lásková M, Vavřičková H, Zimcik P, Phenol Substituted Tetrapyrazinoporphyrazines: pH dependent fluorescence in basic media, Chemistry - A European Journal, 2015, 21 (41): 14382–14392.

• Makhseed S, Machacek M, Alfadly W, Tuhl A, Vinodh M, Simunek T, Novakova V, Kubat P, Rudolf E, Zimcik P, Water soluble non-aggregating phthalocyanine and in vitro studies for photodynamic therapy, Chemical Communications, 2013; 49 (95): 11149-11151.

• Novakova V, Roh J, Gela P, Kuneš J, Zimcik P. Azaphthalocyanines with fused triazolo rings: formation of sterically stressed constitutional isomers. Chemical Communications. 2012; 48 (36): 4326-4328.