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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/221269
Light-Activated Pharmacological Tools for Exploring the Cholinergic System
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Abstract
Cholinergic transmission plays a critical role in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, affecting processes such as learning, memory, and inflammation. Conventional cholinergic drugs generally suffer from poor selectivity and temporal precision, leading to undesired effects and limited therapeutic efficacy. Photopharmacology aims to overcome the limitations of traditional drugs using photocleavable or photoswitchable ligands and spatiotemporal patterns of illumination. Spanning from muscarinic and nicotinic modulators to cholinesterase inhibitors, this review explores the development and application of light-activated compounds as tools for unraveling the role of cholinergic signaling in both physiological and pathological contexts, while also paving the way for innovative phototherapeutic approaches.
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COLLEONI, Alessio, et al. Light-Activated Pharmacological Tools for Exploring the Cholinergic System. Medicinal Research Reviews. 2025. ISSN 1098-1128. [consulted: 15 of June of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/221269