Utrecht researchers review how photoswitchable phospholipids—called photolipids—can use light to precisely and reversibly control cell membrane behavior, protein function, and drug delivery, opening new paths for photopharmacology and biomedicine.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Photoswitchable phospholipids for the optical control of membrane processes, protein function, and drug delivery - Communications Materials
Cell membranes are dynamic entities that are actively involved in many cellular processes. This Review highlights recent advances in the photopharmacology of phospholipids, exploring the photoswitchab...
www.nature.com
April 1, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Utrecht researchers review how photoswitchable phospholipids—called photolipids—can use light to precisely and reversibly control cell membrane behavior, protein function, and drug delivery, opening new paths for photopharmacology and biomedicine.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Photopharmacology in Action: Conformational Landscape of a Photoswitchable Covalent Kinase Inhibitor [new]
Photoswitchable inhibitor isomers impact JNK3 interaction. Trans isomer covalently inhibits JNK3; bond affects photoswitching.
Photoswitchable inhibitor isomers impact JNK3 interaction. Trans isomer covalently inhibits JNK3; bond affects photoswitching.
May 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Photopharmacology in Action: Conformational Landscape of a Photoswitchable Covalent Kinase Inhibitor [new]
Photoswitchable inhibitor isomers impact JNK3 interaction. Trans isomer covalently inhibits JNK3; bond affects photoswitching.
Photoswitchable inhibitor isomers impact JNK3 interaction. Trans isomer covalently inhibits JNK3; bond affects photoswitching.
Introducing: Chromocontrol!
our first science Bsky post for 2024 :) #ChemSky #ChemBio
The most important photopharmacology work we've done in years.
Ditched the photoswitch design principles we used since a decade, & started all over again.
And now it will work in vivo.
doi.org/10.1101/2024...
our first science Bsky post for 2024 :) #ChemSky #ChemBio
The most important photopharmacology work we've done in years.
Ditched the photoswitch design principles we used since a decade, & started all over again.
And now it will work in vivo.
doi.org/10.1101/2024...
November 18, 2024 at 2:00 AM
Introducing: Chromocontrol!
our first science Bsky post for 2024 :) #ChemSky #ChemBio
The most important photopharmacology work we've done in years.
Ditched the photoswitch design principles we used since a decade, & started all over again.
And now it will work in vivo.
doi.org/10.1101/2024...
our first science Bsky post for 2024 :) #ChemSky #ChemBio
The most important photopharmacology work we've done in years.
Ditched the photoswitch design principles we used since a decade, & started all over again.
And now it will work in vivo.
doi.org/10.1101/2024...
The next development in photopharmacology (and "photogastronomy"). Controlling the Menthol Receptor TRPM8 with light!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
December 18, 2024 at 6:04 PM
The next development in photopharmacology (and "photogastronomy"). Controlling the Menthol Receptor TRPM8 with light!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
🔓Take a look in our Photoswitches & Photopharmacology collection at a #OpenAccess paper from Kimio Sumaru, Kingo Uchida & co. on using a diarylethene photoswitch for photo-controllable cytotoxicity in cell culture #orgchem
📍AIST, Ryukoku University
📍AIST, Ryukoku University
Photo-controllable cytotoxicity in cell culture using a diarylethene photoswitch
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…
pubs.rsc.org
September 25, 2025 at 8:48 AM
🔓Take a look in our Photoswitches & Photopharmacology collection at a #OpenAccess paper from Kimio Sumaru, Kingo Uchida & co. on using a diarylethene photoswitch for photo-controllable cytotoxicity in cell culture #orgchem
📍AIST, Ryukoku University
📍AIST, Ryukoku University
Join Wiktor Szymanski, Nadja A. Simeth-Crespi, Johannes Broichhagen, and Jana Volaric for MedChemBioOnline on Photopharmacology.
Discover innovative light-responsive compounds used in modulating biological functions.
📅 Nov. 25
🔗 buff.ly/umzJAAr
Discover innovative light-responsive compounds used in modulating biological functions.
📅 Nov. 25
🔗 buff.ly/umzJAAr
November 12, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Join Wiktor Szymanski, Nadja A. Simeth-Crespi, Johannes Broichhagen, and Jana Volaric for MedChemBioOnline on Photopharmacology.
Discover innovative light-responsive compounds used in modulating biological functions.
📅 Nov. 25
🔗 buff.ly/umzJAAr
Discover innovative light-responsive compounds used in modulating biological functions.
📅 Nov. 25
🔗 buff.ly/umzJAAr
Projection-Targeted Photopharmacology Reveals Distinct Anxiolytic Roles for Presynaptic mGluR2 in Prefrontal- and Insula-Amygdala Synapses https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.01.15.575699v1
Projection-Targeted Photopharmacology Reveals Distinct Anxiolytic Roles for Presynaptic mGluR2 in Prefrontal- and Insula-Amygdala Synapses https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.01.15.575699v1
Dissecting how membrane receptors regulate neural circuit function is critical for deciphering basic
www.biorxiv.org
January 16, 2024 at 10:16 AM
Projection-Targeted Photopharmacology Reveals Distinct Anxiolytic Roles for Presynaptic mGluR2 in Prefrontal- and Insula-Amygdala Synapses https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.01.15.575699v1
Read research by Mrinmoy De et al. at IISc Bangalore in our Photoswitches & Photopharmacology collection describing the synthesis, photochromic properties & bioactivity of spiropyrans with electron-donating/withdrawing substituents on indoline and [2H]-chromene rings
Synthesis, photochromic properties, and bioactivity of spiropyrans with electron-donating/withdrawing substituents on indoline and [2H]-chromene rings
Photochromic molecules from the spiropyran family are renowned for their ability to undergo light-induced interconversion between a colorless spiro form and a colored merocyanine form. The…
pubs.rsc.org
September 24, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Read research by Mrinmoy De et al. at IISc Bangalore in our Photoswitches & Photopharmacology collection describing the synthesis, photochromic properties & bioactivity of spiropyrans with electron-donating/withdrawing substituents on indoline and [2H]-chromene rings
What a way to kick off my first day @oxfordchemistry.bsky.social. Announcement of our new UKRI photopharmacology grant, together with collaborators at the Crick, LSHTM and Imperial. Woo hoo. www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-09...
University of Oxford to lead two projects from new UKRI
The University of Oxford is to share in £32.4m funding from the first round of UKRI’s new cross research council responsive mode (CRCRM) pilot scheme, announced today. The scheme is designed to
www.ox.ac.uk
September 2, 2024 at 11:58 AM
What a way to kick off my first day @oxfordchemistry.bsky.social. Announcement of our new UKRI photopharmacology grant, together with collaborators at the Crick, LSHTM and Imperial. Woo hoo. www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-09...
Work from Subhas Samanta and colleagues on photoswitchable Stat3 inhibitors and their anticancer activity against 2D/3D breast cancer cell cultures is featured in our Photoswitches & Photopharmacology collection, read more here👇
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
📍 University of Calcutta 🧪
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
📍 University of Calcutta 🧪
Photoswitchable Stat3 inhibitors: design, synthesis and anticancer activity study on 2D and 3D breast cancer cell cultures
Stat3 protein is known to be hyperactive in many human cancer cells, including leukaemia, lymphoma, breast, ovarian, lung, and prostate cancer cells. The treatment of most of these cancer types…
pubs.rsc.org
September 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Work from Subhas Samanta and colleagues on photoswitchable Stat3 inhibitors and their anticancer activity against 2D/3D breast cancer cell cultures is featured in our Photoswitches & Photopharmacology collection, read more here👇
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
📍 University of Calcutta 🧪
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
📍 University of Calcutta 🧪
It’s nice to see that Photopharmacology has entered phase 2 clinical trials for vision restoration to the blind!
clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT066...
clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT066...
ClinicalTrials.gov
clinicaltrials.gov
November 23, 2024 at 5:02 PM
It’s nice to see that Photopharmacology has entered phase 2 clinical trials for vision restoration to the blind!
clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT066...
clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT066...
This new work develops light activatable RNase L ligands enabling spatiotemporal control of RNA degradation in cells as a host directed antiviral strategy. #Antivirals #RNA #Photopharmacology
📄 https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c13457
👤 EVBC member: Volker Thiel
📄 https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c13457
👤 EVBC member: Volker Thiel
Photoswitchable RNA Degraders for Spatiotemporal Activation of Host-Directed Antivirals in Mammalian Cells
Strategies to develop broad-spectrum antivirals are highly sought after. A promising modern approach includes recruitment of host proteins as a means of activating immune responses that target multiple virus families. Host-directed therapies require a balance of antiviral effects and immunopathology...
doi.org
January 2, 2026 at 2:28 PM
This new work develops light activatable RNase L ligands enabling spatiotemporal control of RNA degradation in cells as a host directed antiviral strategy. #Antivirals #RNA #Photopharmacology
📄 https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c13457
👤 EVBC member: Volker Thiel
📄 https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c13457
👤 EVBC member: Volker Thiel
Join Wiktor Szymanski, Nadja A. Simeth-Crespi, Johannes Broichhagen, and Jana Volaric for MedChemBioOnline on Photopharmacology.
Discover innovative light-responsive compounds used in modulating biological functions.
📅 Nov. 25
🔗 buff.ly/umzJAAr
Discover innovative light-responsive compounds used in modulating biological functions.
📅 Nov. 25
🔗 buff.ly/umzJAAr
November 12, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Join Wiktor Szymanski, Nadja A. Simeth-Crespi, Johannes Broichhagen, and Jana Volaric for MedChemBioOnline on Photopharmacology.
Discover innovative light-responsive compounds used in modulating biological functions.
📅 Nov. 25
🔗 buff.ly/umzJAAr
Discover innovative light-responsive compounds used in modulating biological functions.
📅 Nov. 25
🔗 buff.ly/umzJAAr
🔓Check out this #OpenAccess Review in our Photoswitches & Photopharmacology collection by P. K. Hashim & co discussing recent progress of using photomedicine for approaches in precision medicine and unprecedented treatment methods💡
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
📍Hokkaido University
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
📍Hokkaido University
Conceptual expansion of photomedicine for spatiotemporal treatment methods
Photomedicine has evolved from basic phototherapy to a broad range of light-based technologies to achieve precise and minimally invasive therapeutic outcomes. Recent advances in light sources, photoch...
pubs.rsc.org
September 23, 2025 at 2:41 PM
🔓Check out this #OpenAccess Review in our Photoswitches & Photopharmacology collection by P. K. Hashim & co discussing recent progress of using photomedicine for approaches in precision medicine and unprecedented treatment methods💡
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
📍Hokkaido University
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
📍Hokkaido University
Since the whole point of photopharmacology is to control biology in space and in time, this is a critical systematic flaw.
And it is baked in from the start, because of the paradigm of photoswitching affinity: there's no chance for "reagent optimisation" etc.
🧵5/n
And it is baked in from the start, because of the paradigm of photoswitching affinity: there's no chance for "reagent optimisation" etc.
🧵5/n
November 18, 2024 at 2:25 AM
Since the whole point of photopharmacology is to control biology in space and in time, this is a critical systematic flaw.
And it is baked in from the start, because of the paradigm of photoswitching affinity: there's no chance for "reagent optimisation" etc.
🧵5/n
And it is baked in from the start, because of the paradigm of photoswitching affinity: there's no chance for "reagent optimisation" etc.
🧵5/n
Photopharmacology in Action: Conformational Landscape of a Photoswitchable Covalent Kinase Inhibitor https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.27.656308v1
May 30, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Photopharmacology in Action: Conformational Landscape of a Photoswitchable Covalent Kinase Inhibitor https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.27.656308v1
Don't miss this #OpenAccess review by Yuwei Liu, Tianyi Wang and Weiping Wang 🔓
"Photopharmacology and photoresponsive drug delivery"
Read the full review here 👇
pubs.rsc.org/en/cont...
"Photopharmacology and photoresponsive drug delivery"
Read the full review here 👇
pubs.rsc.org/en/cont...
Photopharmacology and photoresponsive drug delivery
Light serves as an excellent external stimulus due to its high spatial and temporal resolution. The use of light to regulate biological processes has evolved into a vibrant field over the past decade. Employing light on chemical substances such as bioactive molecules and drug delivery systems offers a promising the
pubs.rsc.org
May 9, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Don't miss this #OpenAccess review by Yuwei Liu, Tianyi Wang and Weiping Wang 🔓
"Photopharmacology and photoresponsive drug delivery"
Read the full review here 👇
pubs.rsc.org/en/cont...
"Photopharmacology and photoresponsive drug delivery"
Read the full review here 👇
pubs.rsc.org/en/cont...
📢 @orgbiomolchem.rsc.org & @rscmedchem.rsc.org are delighted to share our latest themed issue on Photoswitches & Photopharmacology, guest edited by Martina Cacciarini, @nadjasimeth.bsky.social, Wiktor Szymanski & Andrew Woolley! #chemsky
Explore the collection here🔽
pubs.rsc.org/en/journals/...
Explore the collection here🔽
pubs.rsc.org/en/journals/...
September 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM
📢 @orgbiomolchem.rsc.org & @rscmedchem.rsc.org are delighted to share our latest themed issue on Photoswitches & Photopharmacology, guest edited by Martina Cacciarini, @nadjasimeth.bsky.social, Wiktor Szymanski & Andrew Woolley! #chemsky
Explore the collection here🔽
pubs.rsc.org/en/journals/...
Explore the collection here🔽
pubs.rsc.org/en/journals/...
It was great to have been able to present my latest work on photopharmacology at the Society of Neuroscientists of Africa meeting #SONA2025 in Marrakech.
Hope this will lead to future collaborations – will make sure to attend the next edition!
Hope this will lead to future collaborations – will make sure to attend the next edition!
April 20, 2025 at 5:39 PM
It was great to have been able to present my latest work on photopharmacology at the Society of Neuroscientists of Africa meeting #SONA2025 in Marrakech.
Hope this will lead to future collaborations – will make sure to attend the next edition!
Hope this will lead to future collaborations – will make sure to attend the next edition!
Don't miss research in our Photoswitches & Photopharmacology collection from Subhabrata Maiti, Sugumar Venkataramani et al. at IISER Mohali reporting an azothiazole probe as a multianalyte colorimetric chemosensor for urea and biologically significant amines #orgchem
An azothiazole probe as a multianalyte colorimetric chemosensor for urea and biologically significant amines
We report an azothiazole-based probe as a chemosensor for urea with a LOD of 45 μM. The underlying sensing principle is an instantaneous color change associated with the complex forming between the…
pubs.rsc.org
September 27, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Don't miss research in our Photoswitches & Photopharmacology collection from Subhabrata Maiti, Sugumar Venkataramani et al. at IISER Mohali reporting an azothiazole probe as a multianalyte colorimetric chemosensor for urea and biologically significant amines #orgchem
BOAHY-BODIPY system introduces optical control to photodynamic therapy through photoisomerization, advancing precision therapy.
Great contributions by JH & kostia!
#PDT #Photopharmacology #CancerResearch #BODIPY #photoisomerization
doi.org/10.1021/acs....
Great contributions by JH & kostia!
#PDT #Photopharmacology #CancerResearch #BODIPY #photoisomerization
doi.org/10.1021/acs....
Dyad System of BOAHY-BODIPY Conjugates as Novel Photoswitchable Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers minimally invasive and repeatable cancer treatment options. Despite advancements in photosensitizer (PS) design, the optical control of PS activation remains unexplor...
doi.org
February 1, 2025 at 4:32 AM
BOAHY-BODIPY system introduces optical control to photodynamic therapy through photoisomerization, advancing precision therapy.
Great contributions by JH & kostia!
#PDT #Photopharmacology #CancerResearch #BODIPY #photoisomerization
doi.org/10.1021/acs....
Great contributions by JH & kostia!
#PDT #Photopharmacology #CancerResearch #BODIPY #photoisomerization
doi.org/10.1021/acs....
Be sure to read the latest work from Kazuya Matsuo, Nobuyuki Tamaoki & co on report a photoswitchable CENP-E inhibitor that is controllable with low-energy blue-green light illumination, seen in our Photoswitches & Photopharmacology collection💡
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
📍Hokkaido University 🧪
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
📍Hokkaido University 🧪
A photoswitchable CENP-E inhibitor with single blue-green light to control chromosome positioning in mitotic cells
Reversibly photoswitchable chemical tools have aided in the development of novel approaches in the biomedical field. The visible region of light should be ideal for the biological application of this…
pubs.rsc.org
September 25, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Be sure to read the latest work from Kazuya Matsuo, Nobuyuki Tamaoki & co on report a photoswitchable CENP-E inhibitor that is controllable with low-energy blue-green light illumination, seen in our Photoswitches & Photopharmacology collection💡
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
📍Hokkaido University 🧪
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
📍Hokkaido University 🧪
The other shoe finally dropped. We were notified this morning that our NIH funding for our work on photopharmacology tools has been cut.
We’ll keep going with or without them 🤷♂️
We’ll keep going with or without them 🤷♂️
June 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM
The other shoe finally dropped. We were notified this morning that our NIH funding for our work on photopharmacology tools has been cut.
We’ll keep going with or without them 🤷♂️
We’ll keep going with or without them 🤷♂️
Who is behind #PHOTOTHERAPORT?🔬✨
A cutting-edge multidisciplinary team of neuroscientists, bioengineers, and chemists working to develop the next generation of light-driven therapies for the nervous system.
Check next post to know them 👇
#photopharmacology 💊💡🧠 #eicPathfinder
A cutting-edge multidisciplinary team of neuroscientists, bioengineers, and chemists working to develop the next generation of light-driven therapies for the nervous system.
Check next post to know them 👇
#photopharmacology 💊💡🧠 #eicPathfinder
April 8, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Who is behind #PHOTOTHERAPORT?🔬✨
A cutting-edge multidisciplinary team of neuroscientists, bioengineers, and chemists working to develop the next generation of light-driven therapies for the nervous system.
Check next post to know them 👇
#photopharmacology 💊💡🧠 #eicPathfinder
A cutting-edge multidisciplinary team of neuroscientists, bioengineers, and chemists working to develop the next generation of light-driven therapies for the nervous system.
Check next post to know them 👇
#photopharmacology 💊💡🧠 #eicPathfinder
Be sure to read this paper describing azophotoswitches containing thiazole, isothiazole, thiadiazole, and isothiadiazole in our Photoswitches & Photopharmacology collection by Nobuyuki Tamaoki & co. from Hokkaido University #orgchem
Find their full report below👇
Find their full report below👇
Azophotoswitches containing thiazole, isothiazole, thiadiazole, and isothiadiazole
We report a novel class of azophotoswitches incorporating various five-membered heteroaryl units such as thiazole, isothiazole, thiadiazole, and isothiadiazole. These azophotoswitches were developed…
pubs.rsc.org
September 28, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Be sure to read this paper describing azophotoswitches containing thiazole, isothiazole, thiadiazole, and isothiadiazole in our Photoswitches & Photopharmacology collection by Nobuyuki Tamaoki & co. from Hokkaido University #orgchem
Find their full report below👇
Find their full report below👇