A rational design of copper–selenium nanoclusters that cures sepsis by consuming endogenous H2S to trigger photothermal therapy and ROS burst†
Abstract
The treatment of sepsis caused by bacterial infections is still a huge clinical challenge. As sepsis causes high levels of endogenous H2S in vivo, researchers can design nanomedicines to treat sepsis by in situ sulfurization. Here, we designed and synthesized Cu2O-coated non-metallic core–shell selenium nanoparticles. To cure mice sepsis by ROS burst. Our experimental data displayed that the photothermal effect of Se@Cu9S8 produced by the reaction of Se@Cu2O and endogenous H2S is synergistically antibacterial, and Se@Cu2O has the characteristics of low side effects and high biocompatibility. In summary, our research results verified our design, that copper–selenium nanoclusters may be an efficient strategy to cure sepsis by in situ sulfurization of endogenous H2S, triggering ROS eruptions and photothermal therapy.