The Role of Photochemical Reactions in the Development of Advanced Soft Materials for Biomedical Applications

Abstract In the biomedical field, many innovative materials to improve diagnosis and treatment of diseases are currently being developed. The ability to respond to different stimuli is one of the more interesting properties of such materials. Light, as one of the nature's elementary stimuli, offers an attractive and flexible stimulus for controlling the properties and functions of biomedical‐related materials. As such, photoresponsive systems have been increasingly pursued and finding applications in various biomedical settings, ranging from tissue engineering for the fabrication of bespoke tissue scaffolds to drug delivery, aims at manipulating treatment distribution inside the human body. Efforts have also been devoted to the development of highly efficient methods to control biological activity and bring us closer to mimicking impressive biological actuators. In this progress report, an overview of recent developments in the field is provided and current challenges discussed. Key strategies tailored to address specific issues are examined, offering useful perspectives for future designs.