All-in-one NIR-activated nanoplatforms for enhanced bacterial biofilm eradication

Abstract

The chronic infection of humans by antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their related biofilm have, so far, not been properly addressed. In the present work, we developed a novel antibacterial nanoplatform showing the most efficient antibiotic-resistant bacteria inhibition and biofilm eradication. This particular formulation contains tobramycin-conjugated graphene oxide, for efficiently capturing bacteria through electrostatic interactions and eliminating bacteria as a “nano-knife”, and copper sulphide nanoparticles for enhancing the photothermal and photodynamic properties. This novel formulation can selectively eliminate bacteria over NIH 3T3 cells, and the biofilm eradication capacity was up to 70%. Importantly, the nanoplatforms can inhibit bacterial growth and promote the repair of antibiotic-resistant bacteria-infected wounds on rats without non-specific damage to normal tissue. This work provides an effective, simple, and rapid method for the design and fabrication of near-infrared light-induced nanoplatforms that offer possibilities to treat biofilm-related infections.