The control of physical or chemical phenomena resulting from the absorption of light by matter is a major challenge for the scientific community. In this context, the development of stimulus-responsive molecular switches able to act as fluorescent probes or photosensitizers for the destruction of pathogens are structures sought in photomedicine to develop a spatiotemporal approach to treatment. This is at the heart of the SwitDream project, which aims to prepare a new family of Bodipy dyes incorporated in a rotaxane-type architecture. These structures will be composed of three key elements: 1- a macrocycle from the Bodipy dye family, 2- a linear molecular fragment with two stations for the macrocycle and 3- a stopper containing heavy atoms. The modulation of the distance between the Bodipy and the heavy atoms upon acid addition will play a key role in selecting the fluorescence or the photosensitizing properties. In addition to the synthetic aspect, photophysical studies and antibacterial tests will be carried out to assess the therapeutic potential of the molecules prepared. The project is expected to be facilitated by preliminary results and should lead to ground-breaking results both in synthetic chemistry and in the development of new therapeutic agents.
