International Journal of Nanomedicine (Jun 2022)
Photocatalytic Cu2WS4 Nanocrystals for Efficient Bacterial Killing and Biofilm Disruption
Abstract
Heng Dong,1,* Kaili Yang,2,* Yu Zhang,1 Qiang Li,1 Weijun Xiu,2 Meng Ding,1 Jingyang Shan,3 Yongbin Mou1 1Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Centre for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Neurology, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, 518000, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yongbin Mou, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, #30 Zhongyang Road, Nanjing, 210008, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]; [email protected] Jingyang Shan, Department of Neurology, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, 518000, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Bacterial biofilm-related wound infections threaten human health due to the lack of efficient treatments. Therefore, developing a novel strategy for wound infection care is urgently needed.Methods: Cube-shaped Cu2WS4 nanocrystals (CWSNs) were successfully prepared via a microwave-assisted method. CWSNs, as photocatalysts, were first studied by using fluorescence spectroscopy for their ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). The antibacterial and biofilm inhibition abilities of CWSNs were determined in vitro by using Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) as the model bacterium. Moreover, a CWSN gel was prepared and applied to treat S. aureus-infected wounds in mice. The toxicity of the CWSNs was evaluated through in vitro cell and in vivo animal experiments.Results: Studies on the properties of the CWSNs demonstrated that these nanomaterials can catalyze the generation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) without the addition of H2O2 after visible-light irradiation, indicating their photocatalytic ability. Moreover, the in vitro experimental results showed that the CWSNs not only adhered to the surfaces of S. aureus to kill the bacteria, but also inhibited S. aureus biofilm formation. The in vivo study showed that the CWSN gel produced excellent antibacterial effects against S. aureus infected wounds in mice and effectively promoted wound healing. Furthermore, toxicity tests showed that the CWSNs have negligible toxicity in vitro and in vivo.Conclusion: This work provides a potential photocatalytic antibacterial nanoagent for efficient bacterial killing, inhibition of biofilms growth and wound infection treatment.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: Cu2WS4 nanocrystals, Staphylococcus aureus, visible light, hydroxyl radical, antibacterial, biofilms
