Themed collection Photoswitches and Photopharmacology

This review covers the history of light therapy, the emergence of photopharmacology, its methods, and challenges. Current advancements show promise for treating diseases like cancer with precision and minimal side effects.

To study the impact of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents on the indoline and [2H]-chromene rings of spiropyrans, we synthesized four spiropyrans with varied substituents, analysed their photoswitching kinetics, and evaluated their antibacterial properties.

Based on the known Wnt agonist BML-284, we designed and synthesized photoswitchable azo derivative compounds that can act as agonists for the Wnt signaling pathway.

We report a benzothiazole-based probe as a chemosensor for urea detection with an LOD of 45 μM capable of sensing various biologically significant amines such as arginine, lysine and organic aliphatic primary and secondary amines.

Novel heterocyclic azophotoswitches synthesized in a single step demonstrate sensitivity to visible light.

The key markers of immunogenic cell death were detected in mammalian cell cultures upon co-incubation with gramicidin S and its photoswitchable analogues at the sub-membranolytic concentrations, suggesting an immunotherapeutic potential for peptides.

A photoswitchable centromere-associated protein E (CENP-E) inhibitor based on the 4-methylaminoazobenzene photoswitch is reported, which is characterized with cis–trans photoisomerization with blue-green light and fast thermal relaxation.