Photodegradable moieties for post-treatment inactivation with visible light

Overview

This innovation introduces patented photocleavable molecular groups (moieties) that can be incorporated into chemical compounds without significantly affecting their activity. Once the compound is exposed to visible light, these moieties trigger a degradation process that renders the chemical inactive. The technology has already demonstrated proof-of-concept in aquaculture, where a salmon lice treatment drug retained its therapeutic activity and became inactive within hours of light exposure. Additionally, novel antibacterial properties were observed during testing, expanding the potential application space.

The core value proposition is built-in environmental safety: chemicals designed to do their job and then self-deactivate when no longer needed. This addresses growing concerns about chemical persistence in the environment, particularly in agriculture and aquaculture, where residues can affect ecosystems long after application.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• Two photocleavable groups developed with different degradation half-lives (approximately 2 hours and approximately 24 hours)
• Visible light activation, no UV or specialized equipment required
• Minimal impact on the parent compound's activity when incorporated
• Novel molecular scaffold enabling creation of new compounds with unique properties
• Demonstrated low toxicity in human cell testing
• Observed activity against common gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria
• Published peer-reviewed validation in J. Org. Chem. 2022, 87, 8034–8047

How it works:

The moieties function as molecular switches. When integrated into a chemical structure, they remain stable and allow the compound to perform its intended function. Upon exposure to visible light, the photocleavable group triggers a cleavage reaction that breaks down the active molecule into inactive fragments. The two available variants offer flexibility in tuning degradation timing based on application requirements.

Technology readiness level

The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development. Proof-of-concept has been established in aquaculture applications, with synthesis and human cell toxicity testing completed at partner facilities including the University of Tromsø. Published results confirm activity retention and light-triggered inactivation in a salmon lice drug candidate.

Future validation efforts focus on agricultural applications. The research team plans to screen compounds from the FRAC, HRAC, and IRAC classification systems (fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides respectively) to identify suitable candidates for incorporating the photocleavable moieties. Collaboration with NIBIO (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research) is planned to identify problematic agricultural targets where this technology could provide competitive advantages. Modified compounds will be tested for retained activity and degradation behavior under light exposure.