“Caged” compounds are biologically active molecules that have a photolabile protecting group attached to a significant functional group so as to render the molecule biologically inert. Their use is derived from the use of light to remove the protecting group and release the biologically active molecule. As only light is required to release the active molecule, this technique is particularly applicable to a biological setting. Photorelease of biologically active molecules is attractive as it affords enhanced spatial and temporal control over the administration of these compounds and this the activation / inhibition of their biological target.

We have developed caged derivatives of capsaicin, the hot component of chilli peppers, and demonstrated that upon photolysis in dorsal root ganglion cells these compounds activate the capsaicin receptor, TRPV1 (Carr et al. 2006).

We have recently reported the synthesis of two caged derivatives of the mitochondrial uncoupler, AG10, and demonstrated that photolysis of this compound in smooth muscle cells leads to a localised disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential only at the site of photolysis.