Progress of Azobenzene-based Photoswitchable Molecular Probes and Sensory Chips for Chemical and Biological Analysis

Azobenzene derivatives have received considerable experimental and theoretical attention, and more and more investigations and knowledge on the characteristics of their photo-induced isomerization was developed. Except for their traditionally well-known uses as dyes or colorants in many industries, in recent years, azobenzene derivatives not only have been widely applied to the smart polymers, liquid crystals, molecular switches and machines as the photoresponsive functional devices, but rapidly permeated and applied to the field of chemical and biological analysis as photoswitchable molecular probes and sensory chips. So, it is important to review and summarize the latest developments. In this review, more than 100 relevant literatures are cited and the prospects are laid out.

Graphical AbstractAzobenzene derivatives have received considerable theoretical and experimental attention by chemists and biologists alike. As photoswitchable moieties in molecular probes and sensory chips, azobenzene derivatives have been rapidly and extensively applied to the field of chemical and biological analysis in vitro and in vivo. The figure shows, as a good example of the latest developments summarized in this review, photocontrol of the opening and closing of ionotropic glutamate receptors by tethering its ligand to the end of an azo compound (MAG, maleimido-azobenzenyl-glutamate), reported by Trauner's group.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide