Photoswitchable Catalysis by a Nanozyme Mediated by a Light-Sensitive Cofactor

The activity of a gold nanoparticle-based catalyst can be reversibly up- and down-regulated by light. Light is used to switch a small molecule between cis- and trans-isomers, which inhibits the catalytic activity of the nanoparticles to different extent. The system is functional in aqueous buffer, which paves the way for integrating the system in biological networks.