Photopharmacology and photoresponsive drug delivery

Light serves as an excellent external stimulus due to its high spatial and temporal resolution. The use of light to regulate biological processes has evolved into a vibrant field over the past decade. Employing light on chemical substances such as bioactive molecules and drug delivery systems offers a promising therapeutic approach to achieve precise control over biological processes. In this review, we provide an overview of the advancements in optochemical technologies for controlling bioactive molecules (photopharmacology) and drug delivery systems (photoresponsive drug delivery), with an emphasis on their relationship and biomedical applications. Gaining a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms and emerging research will facilitate the development of optochemically controlled bioactive molecules and photoresponsive drug delivery systems, further enhancing light technologies in biomedical applications.