Multimodal Antibacterial Platform Constructed by the Schottky Junction of Curcumin‐Based Bio Metal–Organic Frameworks and Ti3C2Tx MXene Nanosheets for Efficient Wound Healing

Abstract

A novel multimodal antibacterial platform is constructed by the in situ growth of a bioactive zinc‐based metal–organic framework (Zn‐MOF) using the natural antibacterial agent (curcumin) as ligand over the Ti3C2Tx nanosheets (NSs) for highly effective bacteria‐infected wound healing. As Zn nodes in Zn‐MOF can be partially exchanged by Ti sites in Ti3C2Tx NSs, a novel oxygen vacancy‐rich Schottky junction is formed at the interface between Zn‐MOF and Ti3C2Tx NSs, which can remarkably improve the separation and electron transfer efficiency of photoinduced carriers under near‐infrared light irradiation (808 nm). Consequently, it affords the Zn‐MOF@Ti3C2Tx Schottky junction abundant superoxide radicals (•O2−) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) by electron transfer via type I mechanism and singlet oxygen (1O2) by energy transfer via type II mechanism, accompanying the superior photothermal performance and controllable release of Zn2+ ions and curcumin. The Zn‐MOF@Ti3C2Tx shows excellent biocompatibility and multimodal antibacterial ability toward Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Based on the detailed investigations of the antibacterial mechanism, the Zn‐MOF@Ti3C2Tx Schottky junction remarkably demonstrates accelerated wound healing (wound closure ratio is >99%) infected by S. aureus.

Keywords

• bio-metal–organic frameworks
• multimodal antibacterial platforms
• Schottky junctions
• Ti3C2Tx MXene
• wound healing