PHOTOPHARMACOLOGY

The principle of photopharmacology is the introduction of a photoswitchable unit into the molecular structure of the bioactive compound itself. Dynamic control is achieved through addressing a small photoresponsive molecule and in a sense is comparable to classical pharmacotherapy making this method potentially interesting for medical applications. Specificity to the selected target is intrinsic to this approach as it employs a highly optimized design of a selective bioactive compound into which a responsive element is introduced. Photopharmacological treatment is especially suitable in situations where the disease is localized. Action on exposed parts such as the skin or eyes seems the most natural target. However the advances in designing molecular photoswitches that respond to deeper-penetrating red light make it increasingly viable to treat other localized conditions such as infections and solid tumors