Abstract: The present invention relates to a conditionally switchable nanostructure configured to assume a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the nanostructure comprises a binding site that is configured to bind to a binding target, and wherein the accessibility of the binding site for the binding target in the second configuration is different to the accessibility of the binding site for the binding target in the first configuration. Further, the nanostructure is configured to assume the first configuration when none of the coupling sites of the coupling site set is coupled to its respective coupling target and to assume the second configuration when each coupling site of a subset of the coupling site set is coupled to its respective coupling target, wherein the subset comprises at least one coupling site. Additionally, the present technology also relates to a system comprising the nanostructure as well as a method utilizing the nanostructure or the system.