In one aspect, a chemically-modified siRNA for reversible photo-controlledgenesilencing is provided. In one embodiment, one or more nucleotides the sensestrand of the siRNA are replaced with a spacer comprising an azobenzene orderivative thereof. The azobenzene or derivative thereof undergoesisomerizationbetween the trans-configuration and the cis-configuration in the presence oflightfrom a light source and the siRNA optionally has higher RNA silencing activitywhen the azobenzene or derivative thereof is in the trans-configurationcomparedto the cis-configuration. In other aspects, the chemically-modified siRNAsmay,for example, be useful as both therapeutics and research tools.