title: Emerging Targets in Photopharmacology.
abstract: The field of photopharmacology uses molecular photoswitches to establish control over the action of bioactive molecules. It aims to reduce systemic drug toxicity and the emergence of resistance, while achieving unprecedented precision in treatment. By using small molecules, photopharmacology provides a viable alternative to optogenetics. We present here a critical overview of the different pharmacological targets in various organs and a survey of organ systems in the human body that can be addressed in a non-invasive manner. We discuss the prospects for the selective delivery of light to these organs and the specific requirements for light-activatable drugs. We also aim to illustrate the druggability of medicinal targets with recent findings and emphasize where conceptually new approaches have to be explored to provide photopharmacology with future opportunities to bring "smart" molecular design ultimately to the realm of clinical use.
authors.affiliation: Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1765-0301
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lerch
authors.affiliation: Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.|Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mickel J
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7597-1229
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and Intensive Care, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, P.O. Box 30001, 9700, RB, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gooitzen M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7248-8696
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: van Dam
authors.affiliation: Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands. w.c.szymanski@rug.nl.|Department of Radiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, P.O. Box 30001, 9700, RB, Groningen, The Netherlands. w.c.szymanski@rug.nl.
authors.forename: Wiktor
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9754-9248
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Szymanski
authors.affiliation: Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands. b.l.feringa@rug.nl.|Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands. b.l.feringa@rug.nl.|Department of Radiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, P.O. Box 30001, 9700, RB, Groningen, The Netherlands. b.l.feringa@rug.nl.
authors.forename: Ben L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Feringa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D062308:Optogenetics; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D055668:Photochemical Processes / Q000187:drug effects*; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries
keywords: light delivery; light therapy; photopharmacology; photoswitching; smart drugs