A photocontrolled molecular switch regulates paralysis in a living organism.

Using light to modulate biochemical agents in living organisms has a significant impact on photodynamic therapy and drug release. We demonstrate that a photoresponsive system can reversibly induce paralysis in nematodes as a model for living organisms when two different wavelengths of light are used to toggle the molecular switch between its two structural forms. This example illustrates how photoswitches offer great potential for advancing biomedical technologies.