– (R)-nitro-Blebbistatin is a more stable form of (+)-blebbistatin , which is the inactive form of (-)-blebbistatin . Prolonged exposure to blue light (450-490 nm) results in degradation of blebbistatin to an inactive product via cytotoxic intermediates, which may be problematic for its use in fluorescent live cell imaging applications. The addition of a nitro group stabilizes the molecule to circumvent its degradation by prolonged blue light exposure. (R)-nitro-Blebbistatin has the same stereochemistry as the inactive (+)-blebbistatin enantiomer.