Rotaxanes equipped with actuators hold great potential for developing highly functional molecular machines, and could enhance our ability to study and manipulate biological and artificial membranes. Here, the authors introduce a rotaxane with a ring that features two azobenzene photoswitches, and demonstrate that photoswitching can be used to reversibly modulate lipid bilayer structure. This capability was exploited for the light-triggered release of sulforhodamine B from large unilamellar vesicles.
- Udyogi N. K. Conthagamage
- Rajitha Rajeshwar T
- Víctor García-López
