Wavelength-Selective Uncaging of Two Different Photoresponsive Groups on One Effector Molecule for Light-Controlled Activation and Deactivation

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 therapeutic approach to achieve precise control over biological processes. In this review, we provide an overview of the advancements in optochemical technologies for controlling bioactive molecules (photopharmacology) and drug delivery systems (photoresponsive drug delivery), with an emphasis on their relationship and biomedical applications. Gaining a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms and emerging research will facilitate the development of optochemically controlled bioactive molecules and photoresponsive drug delivery systems, further enhancing light technologies in biomedical applications.

Remote Silyl Groups Enhance Hydrolytic Stability and Photocleavage Efficiency in Carbamates for Protein Release

Photocleavable molecules are valuable tools for biological studies, enabling spatiotemporal activation of molecular functions within cellular environments. In particular, coumarin-based photolytic molecules are useful because of their ability to flexibly tune the wavelength of photostimulation through their structural modifications. Ideal photocleavable molecular tools require hydrolytic stability and selective susceptibility to photo stimuli. However, conventional coumarin-based molecules have not simultaneously achieved both highly efficient photocleavage and hydrolysis resistance. Herein, we proposed a novel molecular design concept that introduces a silyl group into coumarin-based molecules at a position remote from the photolabile bond, creating an ideal photocleavable molecule for chemical biology tools. The established orbital effect of the remotely introduced silyl group improves the photolysis efficiency of coumarin-based molecules, while its bulkiness substantially enhances their hydrolytic stability in aqueous environments and under enzymatic conditions. Furthermore, this improvement in molecular functionality contributes to the development of high-performance protein-release biomaterials.

Energy transfer booster: how a leaving group controls the excited state pathway within a caging BASHY-BODIPY dyad

Photocages are powerful tools for spatiotemporal control of molecule release or biological activity. However, many photocages are unsuitable for biological experiments since they are mostly activated by harmful ultraviolet (UV) light and often lack a sufficient optical readout. Thus, there is a high demand for near infrared (NIR) and/or two-photon activatable photocages with a characteristic readout. In this report, we will study a supramolecular, covalently linked energy-transfer dyad based on a BASHY fluorophore serving as a two-photon antenna for a poorly two-photon absorbing BODIPY photocage. The herein investigated systems, with and without a leaving group (LG), show different excitation energy transfer (EET) efficiencies and therefore differ in their fluorescence properties. To understand the molecular basis for these significant differences, detailed spectroscopic and theoretical analyses were employed from ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy to excited-state electronic structure calculations and quantum dynamical modelling. The result of our comprehensive study reveals the pivotal role of the LG as an EET booster through specific pathway guidance. In contrast, without the LG, the EET efficiency is reduced and the excitation energy predominantly dissipates within the BASHY chromophore. The present study highlights that LGs can actively contribute to optimizing the properties of dyad based systems and offers new design principles for monitoring uncaging via an intrinsic fluorescence readout.

Coumarin-Derived Caging Groups in the Spotlight: Tailoring Physiochemical and Photophysical Properties

The development of light-responsive molecular tools enables spatiotemporal control of biochemical processes with superior precision. Amongst these molecular tools, photolabile caging groups are employed to prevent critical binding interactions between a bioactive molecule and its corresponding target. Only upon irradiation with light, the bioactive is released in its 'active' form and is now readily available to bind to its target. Coumarin-derived caging groups constitute one of the most popular classes of photolabile protecting groups, due to their facile synthetic accessibility, ease of tuning photophysical properties via structural modification and rapid photolysis reactions. Herein, we highlight the recent progress made on the development of coumarin-derived caging groups, in which the red-shifting of absorption spectra, improving aqueous solubility and tailoring sub-cellular localisation has been of particular interest.

Wavelength-Selective Xanthene-Based Monochromophoric Photoremovable Protecting Groups for Tuning Soft Matter Material Properties

Photocontrolled deprotection of specific functional groups has garnered significant interest over the past two decades. Notably, the selective deprotection of distinct groups based on wavelength has emerged as a prominent focus in recent research. The achievement of this objective has primarily involved the utilization of linker-based bichromophoric systems and diverse cocktail mixtures of photoresponsive protecting groups (PRPGs), each responsive to varying wavelengths of light. Herein, we present the first wavelength-selective monochromophoric system based on a hydroxanthene moiety, enabling the wavelength-selective release of two distinct functionalities under 450 and 600 nm light, respectively. The mechanism of the wavelength-selective photodegradation was thoroughly investigated by 1H NMR, UV-vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy, suggesting a proton-coupled electron transfer mechanism in the first photorelease step and electron transfer based arylmethyl type of photorelease in the second step. The utility of the xanthene-based wavelength-selective PRPGs was demonstrated in the multistep degradation of microparticles and dual-color tuning of polymer chain architecture, thus opening an avenue to design advanced photoreactive wavelength-controlled systems for applications in soft matter materials.

A Molecular Engineering Approach to Achieve Wavelength-Selective Photorelease Using a Dynamic Photocage

We introduce a molecular engineering strategy for wavelength-selective photorelease of alcohols and carboxylic acids, employing a dynamic photocage featuring an (E)-3-(6-acetyl-2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)acrylate moiety. Initially activated by visible light (λ ≥ 410 nm), it releases alcohol, generating a second photocage. Subsequent exposure to shorter wavelengths (λ ≤ 365 nm) selectively releases carboxylic acid, albeit at a reduced rate.

Site-Selective Photo-Crosslinking of Stilbene Pairs in a DNA Duplex Mediated by Ruthenium Photocatalyst

We herein report a method for site-selective photo-crosslinking of a DNA duplex. A stilbene pair was introduced into a DNA duplex and a ruthenium complex was conjugated with a triplex-forming oligonucleotide. We demonstrated that [2+2] photocycloaddition of the stilbene pair occurred upon irradiation with visible light when the ruthenium complex was in close proximity due to triplex formation. No reaction occurred when the ruthenium complex was not in proximity to the stilbene pair. The wavelength of visible light used was of lower energy than the wavelength of UV light necessary for direct excitation of stilbene. Quantum chemical calculation indicated that ruthenium complex catalyzed the photocycloaddition via triplet-triplet energy transfer. Site selectivity of this photo-crosslinking system was evaluated using a DNA duplex bearing two stilbene pairs as a substrate; we showed that the site of crosslinking was precisely regulated by the sequence of the oligonucleotide linked to the ruthenium complex. Since this method does not require orthogonal photoresponsive molecules, it will be useful in construction of complex photoresponsive DNA circuits, nanodevices and biological tools.

Visible light degradable micelles for intraocular corticosteroid delivery

Visible light responsive micellar drug delivery formulations are of notable interest for the treatment of ocular diseases, as their successful development would enable controlled drug release at the back of the eye, improving efficacy and reducing side-effects when compared to existing approaches. In this work, an aliphatic polycarbonate-based visible light responsive micelle formulation based on mPEG-b-poly(5-hydroxy-trimethylene carbonate) (PHTMC) was prepared wherein the pendant hydroxyl groups of the PHTMC repeating units were protected by blue light-labile [7-(diethylamino)coumarin-4-yl]methyl (DEACM). The photo-labile DEACM provided a photo-triggered release profile, as, upon the removal of these protecting groups by photo-irradiation, the micelles underwent structural disruption, leading to the release of the payload. The removal of DEACM also deprotected the pendant hydroxyl groups of PHTMC, leading to PHTMC backbone degradation via intramolecular cyclization.

Photocaging of Carboxylic Function Bearing Biomolecules by New Thiazole Derived Fluorophore

The design and synthesis of a new fluorophore containing an arylidene thiazole scaffold resulted in a compound with good photophysical characteristics. Furthermore, the thiazole C5-methyl group was easily modified into specific functional groups (CH2 Br and CH2 OH) for the formation of a series of photocourier molecules containing model compounds (benzoic acids), as well as prodrugs, including salicylic acid, caffeic acid, and chlorambucil via a "benzyl" linker. Spectral characteristics (1 H, 13 C NMR, and high-resolution mass spectra) corresponded to the proposed structures. The photocourier molecules demonstrated absorption with high values of coefficient of molar extinction, exhibited contrasting green emission, and showed good dark stability. The mechanism of the photorelease was investigated through spectral analysis, HPLC-HRMS, and supported by TD-DFT calculations. The photoheterolysis and elimination of carboxylic acids were proved to occur in the excited state, yielding a carbocation as an intermediate moiety. The fluorophore structure provided stability to the carbocation through the delocalization of the positive charge via resonance structures. Viability assessment of Vero cells using the MTT-test confirmed the weak cytotoxicity of prodrugs without irradiation and it increase upon UV-light.

Discovery of a Novel Photocaged PI3K Inhibitor Capable of Real-Time Reporting of Drug Release

A novel photocaged PI3K inhibitor 2 was designed and synthesized by introducing a cascade photocaging group to block its key interaction with the kinase. Upon UV light irradiation, the photocaged compound released a highly potent PI3K inhibitor to recover its anticancer properties and a fluorescent dye for real-time reporting of drug release, providing a new approach for studying the PI3K signaling transduction pathway as well as developing precisely controlled cancer therapeutics.

Visible and NIR light photoactivatable o-hydroxycinnamate system for efficient drug release with fluorescence monitoring

Photoactivatable protecting groups (PPGs) have become powerful materials for controlling the activity of biologically important molecules in the biomedical field. However, designing PPGs that can be efficiently activated by biologically benign visible and NIR light with fluorescence monitoring is still a great challenge. Herein, we report o-hydroxycinnamate-based PPGs that can be activated by both visible (one-photon) and NIR (two-photon) light for controlled drug release with real-time monitoring. Thus, a photoremovable 7-diethylamino o-hydroxycinnamate group is covalently attached to an anticancer drug, gemcitabine, to establish a photoactivatable prodrug system. Upon excitation by visible (400-700 nm) or NIR (800 nm) light, the prodrug efficiently releases drug which is quantified by monitoring the formation of a strongly fluorescent coumarin reporter. The prodrug is taken up by the cancer cells and interestingly accumulates within mitochondria as determined by FACS and fluorescence microscopy imaging. Further, the prodrug demonstrates photo-triggered, dose-dependent, and temporally controlled cell death upon irradiation with both visible and NIR light. This photoactivatable system could be useful and adapted in the future for the development of advanced therapies in biomedicine.

Choose your leaving group: selective photodeprotection in a mixture of pHP-caged compounds by VIPER excitation

Photocages are light-triggerable molecular moieties that can locally release a pre-determined leaving group (LG). Finding a suitable photocage for a particular application may be challenging, as the choice may be limited by for instance the optical or physicochemical properties of the system. Using more than one photocage to release different LGs in a reaction mixture may even be more difficult. In this work an experimental strategy is presented that allows us to hand-pick the release of different LGs, and to do so in any order. This is achieved by using isotopologue photocage-LG mixtures in combination with ultrafast VIbrationally Promoted Electronic Resonance (VIPER) excitation. The latter provides the required molecular selectivity simply by tuning the wavenumber of the used IR pulses to the resonance of a specific photocage isotopologue, as is demonstrated here for the para-hydroxyphenacyl (pHP) photocage. For spectroscopic convenience, we use isotopologues of the infrared (IR) spectroscopic marker -SCN as different LGs. Especially for applications where fast LG release is required, pHP is found to be an excellent candidate, as free LG formation is observed to occur with a 10 ps lifetime. The devised strategy may open up new complex uncaging applications, where multiple LGs can be formed locally on a short time scale and in any sequence.

Optical Control of Translation with a Puromycin Photoswitch

Translation is an elementary cellular process that involves a large number of factors interacting in a concerted fashion with the ribosome. Numerous natural products have emerged that interfere with the ribosomal function, such as puromycin, which mimics an aminoacyl tRNA and causes premature chain termination. Here, we introduce a photoswitchable version of puromycin that, in effect, puts translation under optical control. Our compound, termed puroswitch, features a diazocine that allows for reversible and nearly quantitative isomerization and pharmacological modulation. Its synthesis involves a new photoswitchable amino acid building block. Puroswitch shows little activity in the dark and becomes substantially more active and cytotoxic, in a graded fashion, upon irradiation with various wavelengths of visible light. In vitro translation assays confirm that puroswitch inhibits translation with a mechanism similar to that of puromycin itself. Once incorporated into nascent proteins, puroswitch reacts with standard puromycin antibodies, which allows for tracking de novo protein synthesis using western blots and immunohistochemistry. As a cell-permeable small molecule, puroswitch can be used for nascent proteome profiling in a variety of cell types, including primary mouse neurons. We envision puroswitch as a useful biochemical tool for the optical control of translation and for monitoring newly synthesized proteins in defined locations and at precise time points.

Fabricating and Modulating Robust Multi-Photoaddressable Systems with the Derivatives of Diarylethylene and Donor-Acceptor Stenhouse Adducts

Multi-photoaddressable systems (MPSs) belong to complex systems, which are comprised of more than one photoswitching molecule and can respond to different wavelengths of light simultaneously. While MPSs have been extensively applied in various fields, there are also some challenges, such as the deficiency of the wavelength-selective control and the interference from the poor thermodynamic stability of used photoswitching molecules. Herein, we reported two robust MPSs (MPS1/2) consisting of diarylethylene derivative (DAE) and different donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts (DASAs), in which both opened and closed forms of DAE and opened forms of DASAs are thermodynamically stable. MPS1/2 enable fully reversible cyclic photoswitching with improved thermal interference resistance. Moreover, MPS2 also shows a favorable property in PMMA films and has been applied in multicolor display. It is expected that the prepared MPSs could be used in more fields such as information storage and reading and encoding light.

Photoactivatable o-Hydroxycinnamic Platforms for Bioimaging and Therapeutic Release

Photoactivatable or photoremovable protecting groups (PPGs) have become a powerful material and gained enormous interest in the field of biomedical applications. PPGs have been utilized for noninvasive, on-demand, spatio-temporal controlled release of biological effectors by irradiation with light to induce biochemical function. Over the past few years, o-hydroxycinnamate (oHC)-based PPGs have received considerable attention for the release of molecules of interest by either UV (one-photon) or near-IR (two-photon) irradiation. In this miniperspective, we have summarized the development of oHC PPGs for bioimaging and the controlled release of therapeutics, bioactive volatiles and other payloads with real-time monitoring. In addition, several future perspectives of oHC systems have been highlighted at the end of this miniperspective.

Chromo-Orthogonal Deprotection of Carboxylic Acids by Aminonaphthalene and Aminoaniline Photocages

Photoremovable protecting groups (photocages) 6b-6i based on 1-amino-2-hydroxymethylnaphthalene were developed, and their applicability to release alcohols and carboxylic acids in photohydrolysis was investigated. Compound 6b cannot release alcohol since N-demethylation takes place instead. However, the photorelease of carboxylic acids from 6c-6i was demonstrated on caged substrates, including some nonsteroidal drugs and a neurotransmitter. A simultaneous use of aniline and aminonaphthalene cages allows for the chromatic orthogonality and selective deprotection by UV-B or near-visible and UV-A light, respectively. The photochemical reaction mechanism of decaging was investigated by fluorescence measurements and laser flash photolysis, indicating that the heterolysis and elimination of carboxylic acids take place in the singlet excited state, delivering carbocation as an intermediate. The photoheterolysis in the singlet excited state, which directly releases caged substrates, is highly applicable for the photocages and has advantages compared to hitherto used nitrobenzyl derivatives.

A Double Photocage Strategy to Construct Light-Controllable and Spatiotemporally Trackable Cathepsin B Activity-Based Probes

Utilizing multiple cages to selectively modulate the activity of biomolecules is indispensable to achieving controllable and trackable activity manipulation. However, trackable cages that can be used to monitor the activation of biomolecules are rare. In this work, we utilized a double photocage strategy to achieve light-controllable and spatiotemporally trackable activation. To demonstrate biological applicability, we used the well-known cancer cell biomarker cathepsin B as the target and constructed double photocaged cathepsin B activity-based probe 2PPG-FK-AcRha that performed well in cancer cell cultures. Using our probe, we could monitor the light-activation by the blue fluorescence of 7-diethylamino-4-hydroxymethyl-coumarin (DEACM) and simultaneously probe the activity of cathepsin B through the green fluorescence of acetyl rhodamine (AcRha). Additionally, by partially irradiating the cell cultures, the regional photoactivation experiments also demonstrated great spatial controllability and trackability of our probe.

Ultrafast and efficient energy transfer in a one- and two-photon sensitized rhodamine-BODIPY dyad: a perspective for broadly absorbing photocages

In view of the demand for photoactivatable probes that operate in the visible (VIS) to near infrared (NIR) region of the spectrum, we designed a bichromophoric system based on a rhodamine fluorophore and a BODIPY photocage. Two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) measurements and quantum chemical calculations reveal excellent two-photon properties of the employed rhodamine derivative. Excitation of the rhodamine unit via a one- or two-photon process leads to excitation energy transfer (EET) onto the BODIPY part, which is followed by the liberation of the leaving group. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy provides evidence for a highly efficient EET dynamics on a sub-500 femtosecond scale. Complementary quantum dynamical calculations using the multi-layer multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree (ML-MCTDH) approach highlight the quantum coherent character of the EET transfer. Photorelease of p-nitroaniline (PNA) was investigated by UV/vis absorption spectroscopy by either excitation of the rhodamine or the BODIPY moiety. Even though a quantitative assessment of the PNA yield could not be achieved for this particular BODIPY cage, the present study provides a design principle for a class of photocages that can be broadly activated between 500 and 900 nm.

Sequence-independent activation of photocycloadditions using two colours of light

We exploit two reactive chromophores to establish sequence-independent photochemical activation, employing ortho-methyl benzaldehyde (oMBA) and N,N-(dimethylamino)pyrene aryl tetrazole (APAT) with N-(2-hydroxy)ethyl maleimide (NHEM), without any additives. Critically, the order of the irradiation sequence is irrelevant, as the shorter wavelength does not activate the higher wavelength activated species. Therefore, full sequence-independent λ-orthogonality is achieved through differences in both the reaction quantum yields (Φ r,oMBA and Φ r,APAT) and wavelength-dependent reactivity profiles of the employed chromophores.

Controlled release and characterisation of photocaged molecules using in situ LED illumination in solution NMR spectroscopy

We demonstrate that photo-uncaging reactions triggered by LED illumination can be conveniently monitored in situ by solution NMR, offering new ways to characterise and optimise photocages.

Molecular platforms based on biocompatible photoreactions for photomodulation of biological targets

Photoirradiation provides a convenient and biocompatible approach for spatiotemporal modulation of biological systems with photoresponsive components. The construction of molecular platforms with a photoresponse to be integrated into biomolecules for photomodulation has been of great research interest in optochemical biology. In this review, we summarize typical molecular platforms that are integratable with biomolecules for photomodulation purposes. We categorize these molecular platforms according to their excitation light source, namely ultraviolet (UV), visible (Vis) or near-infrared (NIR) light. The protype chemistry of these molecular platforms is introduced along with an overview of their most recent applications for spatiotemporal regulation of biomolecular function in living cells or mice models. Challenges and the outlook are also presented. We hope this review paper will contribute to further progress in the development of molecular platforms and their biomedical use.