Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Characterization of Biological Absorption Spectra Spanning the Visible to the Short-Wave Infrared
Published on: January 10, 2025
Visible and Near-Infrared Photopharmacology: Wavelength-Redshift Strategies for Spatiotemporally Precise Therapeutics
Lei Wang1, Ying Wu2, Xiangqian Tan1
1Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Research and Development for Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China.
Abstract:
Photopharmacology is an innovative paradigm for spatiotemporally controlled drug activity, offering a novel approach to enhance therapeutic precision through improved selectivity and minimized toxicity. However, conventional photoswitches critically depend on ultraviolet (UV) light, which suffers from poor biocompatibility due to its tissue-damaging properties and inherently limited tissue penetration depth. Therefore, the development of red-shifted photopharmacological agents has emerged as a pivotal research focus, garnering substantial interdisciplinary interest. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in redshift-light-activated photoswitches and photocages, highlighting their structural design principles, photophysical properties, and mechanistic insights in medicinal chemistry. Focused on current technological frontiers and unresolved challenges, we further elaborate on the applicational potential of photopharmacological strategies for in vivo treatment, thereby illuminating future directions for integrating light-responsive molecular systems into precision medicine.
Related Concept Videos
The de Broglie Wavelength
Uncertainty in Measurement: Accuracy and Precision
Therapeutic Index
Accuracy and Precision
Therapeutic Communication
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
Ultraviolet and Visible (UV–Vis) Spectroscopy: Overview

