The release of molecules from polymers upon light stimulus has been investigated for a range of applications in particular for drug delivery. In this review, the concept of light-induced release processes from polymers is summarized. Light-triggered processes can be divided into two approaches, the light induced degradation of polymers and the light-induced polarity change of the polymers. Functional groups that can enable the breakdown of the polymer or the cleavage of a linker between polymer and small molecule encompass coumarine and o-nitrobenzyl groups while azobenze and spyropyrane undergo reversible changes. Although the literature is dominated by these four compound classes, functional groups such as anthracene, pyrene, perylene, 2-diazo-1,2-naphthoquinone, and BODIPY can undergo similar changes. Degradation of polymers or simple polarity changes can trigger the release of small molecules such as drugs, but also gas molecules such as nitric oxide and macromolecules including DNA and proteins can be liberated upon light-trigger.

已经研究了在光刺激下从聚合物释放分子的用途，特别是在药物递送方面的广泛应用。在这篇综述中，总结了从聚合物中光诱导释放过程的概念。光触发的过程可以分为两种方法，一种是光诱导的聚合物降解，另一种是光诱导的极性变化。能使聚合物分解或使聚合物与小分子之间的连接基裂解的官能团包括香豆碱和邻-硝基苄基而偶氮苯和螺并吡喃经历可逆变化。尽管文献中以这四种化合物为主，但诸如蒽，pyr，per，2-重氮1,2-萘醌和BODIPY的官能团可能会发生类似的变化。聚合物的降解或简单的极性变化会触发小分子（如药物）的释放，但气体分子（如一氧化氮和大分子，包括DNA和蛋白质）会在触发光时释放出来。