Molecular Design of Amphiphilic Plasma Membrane-Targeted Azobenzenes for Nongenetic Optical Stimulation

We present a series of cationic membrane-targeted azobenzene molecules, with the aim to understand how variations in molecular architecture influence relative optical and biological properties. 1,4-Amino-substituted was chosen as switching unit while number linked alkyl chains their end-group were systematically varied. Their photophysics, membrane partitioning, electrophysiological efficacy studied. found that polar end group is key-factor determining interaction phospholipid heads plasma bilayer consequently ability dimerize. The monosubstituted photoswitch pyridinium-terminated chain be best candidate for photostimulation. This study provides structure-property investigation can guide chemical engineering new generation photo-actuators.