Harnessing zebrafish as a model for photopharmacology: Insights into light-controlled biological effects of photoswitchable drugs

Abstract

Photopharmacology is an emerging field of pharmacological sciences that enables precise spatiotemporal control over drug activation with light. In its reversible mode, it relies on photoswitchable bioactive compounds. The capacity to reversibly activate and deactivate drugs derivatized with photoswitches enables us to avoid side effects and environmental toxicity. Zebrafish represent an emerging and privileged model for translational photopharmacology because of their optical transparency at early developmental stages, genetic tractability, and well-characterized biological mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the use of zebrafish in advancing photopharmacology and understanding the effects of light-controlled interventions using photoswitchable bioactive compounds.