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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Determination of the Photoisomerization Quantum Yield of a Hydrazone Photoswitch

Determination of the Photoisomerization Quantum Yield of a Hydrazone Photoswitch

Published on: February 7, 2022

Spiropyrans as molecular optical switches.

Britta Seefeldt¹, Robert Kasper, Mirco Beining

¹Applied Laser Physics and Laser Spectroscopy and Bielefeld Institute for Biophysics and Nanoscience, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany.

Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences : Official Journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology

|February 4, 2010

Summary

Researchers developed novel spiropyran-fluorophore conjugates as molecular optical switches for super-resolution microscopy. These photoswitches enable precise control over fluorescence emission, advancing subdiffraction imaging capabilities.

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Synthesis of pH Dependent Pyrazole, Imidazole, and Isoindolone Dipyrrinone Fluorophores using a Claisen-Schmidt Condensation Approach

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Published on: June 10, 2021

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Optical Microscopy
Materials Science

Background:

Optical microscopy is limited by diffraction, hindering visualization of subcellular structures.
Super-resolution microscopy techniques overcome diffraction limits using temporal control of fluorophores.
Photochromic molecules acting as molecular switches are key for these advanced methods.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and characterize spiropyran-fluorophore conjugates as efficient molecular optical switches (photoswitches).
To investigate the photoswitching behavior of these conjugates at ensemble and single-molecule levels.
To assess their utility in super-resolution fluorescence imaging.

Main Methods:

Synthesis of spiropyran-fluorophore conjugates.
Characterization of photoswitching properties using ensemble and single-molecule spectroscopy.
Immobilization of photoswitches in polymer matrices.
Investigation of photobleaching effects and development of water-soluble derivatives.

Main Results:

Spiropyran-fluorophore conjugates demonstrated reversible switching between fluorescent and non-fluorescent states.
Photoswitching was confirmed at the single-molecule level.
Immobilization in polymers is crucial for stabilizing the merocyanine form for super-resolution applications.
A water-soluble derivative and intermolecular photoswitching were successfully demonstrated.

Conclusions:

Spiropyran-fluorophore conjugates are effective molecular optical switches for super-resolution fluorescence imaging.
Precise control over fluorescence emission via photoswitching is achievable.
Further development, including water-soluble variants and immobilization strategies, is promising for advanced microscopy applications.