title: Optical control of antibacterial activity.
abstract: Bacterial resistance is a major problem in the modern world, stemming in part from the build-up of antibiotics in the environment. Novel molecular approaches that enable an externally triggered increase in antibiotic activity with high spatiotemporal resolution and auto-inactivation are highly desirable. Here we report a responsive, broad-spectrum, antibacterial agent that can be temporally activated with light, whereupon it auto-inactivates on the scale of hours. The use of such a 'smart' antibiotic might prevent the build-up of active antimicrobial material in the environment. Reversible optical control over active drug concentration enables us to obtain pharmacodynamic information. Precisely localized control of activity is achieved, allowing the growth of bacteria to be confined to defined patterns, which has potential for the development of treatments that avoid interference with the endogenous microbial population in other parts of the organism.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willem A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Velema
authors.forename: Jan Pieter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: van der Berg
authors.forename: Mickel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Wiktor
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Szymanski
authors.forename: Arnold J M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Driessen
authors.forename: Ben L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Feringa
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000528:radiation effects; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D015195:Drug Design; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D007536:Isomerism; D008027:Light; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D015363:Quinolones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001391:Azo Compounds; D015363:Quinolones; C009850:azobenzene