Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 29, 2025
Rose Bengal-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy to Inhibit Candida albicans
Published on: March 24, 2022
An AIE-Active Conjugated Polymer with High ROS-Generation Ability and Biocompatibility for Efficient Photodynamic
Taotao Zhou1, Rong Hu1, Lirong Wang1
1State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, Center for Aggregation-Induced Emission, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
Abstract:
New, biocompatible materials with favorable antibacterial activity are highly desirable. In this work, we develop a unique conjugated polymer featuring aggregation-induced emission (AIE) for reliable bacterial eradication. Thanks to the AIE and donor-π-acceptor structure, this polymer shows a high reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generation ability compared to a low-mass model compound and the common photosensitizer Chlorin E6. Moreover, the selective binding of pathogenic microorganisms over mammalian cells was found, demonstrating its biocompatibility. The effective growth inhibition of bacteria upon polymer treatment under light irradiation was validated in vitro and in vivo. Notably, the recovery from infection after treatment with our polymer is faster than that with cefalotin. Thus, this polymer holds great promise in fighting against bacteria-related infections in practical applications.
