Issue 28, 2024

Thermosensitive curcumin/silver/montmorillonite-F127 hydrogels with synergistic photodynamic/photothermal/silver ions antibacterial activity

Abstract

Bacterial infections and the emergence of super-resistant bacteria pose a significant risk to human health. Effective sterilization to prevent the development of bacterial drug resistance remains a challenge. Herein, curcumin/silver/montmorillonite (Cur/Ag/Mt) was prepared through a green chemical reduction method with montmorillonite as the carrier, curcumin as the reducing agent and the capping agent, and citric acid as the structure guide agent. Then, a novel dual light-responsive and thermosensitive Pluronic F127-based hydrogel (CAM-F) was prepared by encapsulating Cur/Ag/Mt within the F127 hydrogel. The Cur/Ag/Mt showed strong absorption in the near-infrared region that efficiently converts light into heat for photothermal therapy when the molar ratio of curcumin to silver nitrate was 2 : 1. Specifically, triangular silver nanoparticles reduced by curcumin were immobilized on the Mt layers, which could enhance photodynamic therapy by the metal-enhanced singlet oxygen and metal-enhanced fluorescence mechanisms. Upon combining 405 nm and 808 nm laser irradiation, the CAM-F hydrogel could simultaneously generate reactive oxygen species, increase the local temperature, and sustain the release of Ag+, thus displaying excellent bactericidal performance against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The antibacterial rates of CAM-F hydrogels were 99.26 ± 0.95% and 99.95 ± 0.98% for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. The findings suggest the potential of the CAM-F hydrogel as a stable, biologically safe, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial material. The thermosensitive CAM-F hydrogels for synergetic phototherapy may provide a promising strategy for solving clinical problems caused by pathogenic infections.

Graphical abstract: Thermosensitive curcumin/silver/montmorillonite-F127 hydrogels with synergistic photodynamic/photothermal/silver ions antibacterial activity

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
01 Mar 2024
Accepted
06 Jun 2024
First published
24 Jun 2024

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024,12, 6874-6885

Thermosensitive curcumin/silver/montmorillonite-F127 hydrogels with synergistic photodynamic/photothermal/silver ions antibacterial activity

J. H. Liu, X. L. Chen, H. M. Yang, Y. R. Yin, A. Kurniawan and C. H. Zhou, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024, 12, 6874 DOI: 10.1039/D4TB00431K

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