Thermal-Disrupting Interface Mitigates Intercellular Cohesion Loss for Accurate Topical Antibacterial Therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance and drug-resistant pathogens pose significant global health threats.
• Current thermal therapies for bacterial infections risk host cell damage and prolonged healing.
• Developing localized thermal management strategies is crucial for effective and safe antibacterial treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a localized thermal managing strategy, thermal-disrupting interface induced mitigation (TRIM), to minimize intercellular cohesion loss during antibacterial therapy.
• To investigate the efficacy of TRIM dressing films in disrupting bacterial colonization and protecting host cells.
• To evaluate the potential of TRIM for promoting wound healing and mitigating side effects of photothermal therapy.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of TRIM dressing films with microscale arrangements of heat-responsive hydrogel and mechanical support regions.
• Utilizing infrared irradiation to activate the thermal-disrupting properties of the TRIM film.
• Conducting quantitative mechanobiology studies to assess the effect of TRIM on epidermal intercellular cohesion.
• Performing in vivo studies on S. aureus infected mice to evaluate the TRIM effect on wound healing and therapeutic outcomes.

Main Results:

• TRIM dressing films effectively disrupt bacterial colonization upon infrared irradiation through surface microtopography.
• The interfacial contact regulation of TRIM confines heat, minimizing skin damage during thermoablation.
• Quantitative mechanobiology studies confirmed TRIM's critical role in maintaining epidermal intercellular cohesion.
• In vivo studies demonstrated that TRIM-endowed wound dressings mitigate photothermal therapy side effects and promote healing in bacterial infections.

Conclusions:

• TRIM represents a promising localized thermal managing strategy for accurate antibacterial therapy.
• The TRIM dressing film minimizes side effects associated with photothermal therapy, enhancing safety and healing.
• This approach holds potential for future biointerface design in combating a wide spectrum of bacterial infections.