Engineering a protein-based nanoplatform as an antibacterial agent for light activated dual-modal photothermal and photodynamic therapy of infection in both the NIR I and II windows. Issue 5 (17th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gao, D. Y.; Ji, X.; Wang, J. L.; Wang, Y. T.; Li, D. L.; Liu, Y. B.; Chang, K. W.; Qu, J. L.; Zheng, J.; Yuan, Z.
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 6:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 732
• Page End: 739
• Publication Date: 2018-01-17
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c7tb02990j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-750X

Abstract

Abstract : Ultra-small protein-based nanoparticles with absorption in both the NIR I and II biological windows were designed as new photoactivatable antibacterial agents. Abstract : The rapid rise of drug- and multi-drug resistant pathogenic bacteria constitutes an increasing risk to global public health. Thus, it is essential to develop new agents and/or strategies to overcome the antibiotic resistance crisis. Herein, ultra-small protein-based nanoparticles (NPs) with absorption covering both the near-infrared (NIR) I and II windows were constructed as novel antibacterial agents, which introduced a killing strategy utilizing the synergistic photothermal and photodynamic effects. The agent engineered by the conjugation of Ce6 molecules to ultra-small hydrophilic protein-modified copper sulfide NPs can transfer light energy into thermal energy for photothermal therapy and produce reactive oxygen species for photodynamic therapy. Under the irradiation of both NIR I and II lasers, the agent demonstrated a potent bacteria killing activity on both Gram-positive ( Staphylococcus aureus ) and Gram-negative ( Escherichia coli ) in vitro bacteria with high efficacy and safety. Furthermore, the as-prepared NPs also displayed an efficient in vivo bactericidal activity in a mouse model as monitored by measuring the photoacoustic signals of the blood vessels around the infection site. Consequently, leveraging the synergistic photothermal and photodynamic effects, the as-designed ultra-small NIR NPs may eliminate the emergence of drug resistance due to the mechanical destruction of the bacteria cell, thus representing a promising approach to control the antibiotic resistance crisis.