Graduate students Michael Kuepfert and Peiyuan (Tony) Qu have a new article published in Chemistry Europe:

Photoresponsive molecular systems enable the external modulation of chemical functions to develop smart devices and materials. Introducing molecular light triggers can provide spatial and temporal control over chemical reactions, which can facilitate the regulation of biological processes and the performance of materials. Here, we introduce a photoswitchable moiety (i.e. spiropyran) onto amphiphilic polymeric nanoreactors that change their catalytic activity in response to light irradiation. The self-assembled nanoreactors alter their morphologies in response to UV-light which in turn manipulates substrate accessibility to the catalytic site.

Check out the article here.