Photo-controllable cytotoxicity in cell culture using a diarylethene photoswitch

Abstract

For diarylethene (DAE) derivatives, whose dark cytotoxicity varies greatly depending on their isomerization state, we observe that the non-toxic open-ring isomer taken up by cells is converted to a toxic closed-ring isomer after only 10 seconds of UV light irradiation. This enables these derivatives to cause pronounced cell death after 1 day. Furthermore, when the closed-ring isomer is detoxified by opening the ring with green light irradiation after several intervals, cell damage increases with the period that DAE remains in the closed-ring state. The timescale at which the closed-ring isomer triggers the onset of cytotoxicity is considered in conjunction with the intercalation properties of DAE into DNA, and we also discuss the application of photonic molecular machines as a new technology for the control of biosystems.

Graphical abstract: Photo-controllable cytotoxicity in cell culture using a diarylethene photoswitch

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Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
26 Dec 2024
Accepted
01 Apr 2025
First published
29 May 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Org. Biomol. Chem., 2025, Advance Article

Photo-controllable cytotoxicity in cell culture using a diarylethene photoswitch

K. Sumaru, N. Maruyama, K. Morishita, S. Yokojima and K. Uchida, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2025, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D4OB02087A

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