Electronic Structure Modulation of Ag₂ S by Vacancy Engineering for Efficient Bacterial Infection

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Vacancy engineering is a key strategy to tune material properties.
• Coordination unsaturated sites are crucial for substrate interaction.
• Silver sulfide (Ag₂S) exhibits potential antibacterial properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of vacancy engineering on the electronic structure and antibacterial activity of Ag₂S.
• To compare the antibacterial efficacy of Ag₂S with engineered Ag₂S-100.
• To explore the potential of Ag₂S-100 for wound healing applications.

Main Methods:

• Preparation and characterization of Ag₂S and Ag₂S-100 using positron annihilation spectroscopy.
• Experimental and theoretical calculations to analyze electronic structures and properties.
• In vitro and in vivo antibacterial assays using mouse wound-infection models.

Main Results:

• Ag₂S-100 exhibits superior antibacterial activity compared to Ag₂S, attributed to its optimized bandgap and enhanced bacteria-binding ability.
• Vacancy associates (VAgS and VAgSAg) were identified in the prepared Ag₂S materials.
• Ag₂S-100 demonstrated excellent antibacterial and wound-healing properties in vivo.

Conclusions:

• Vacancy engineering in Ag₂S can effectively modulate electronic structures and enhance antibacterial performance.
• Ag₂S-100 presents a promising strategy for developing novel antibacterial agents and wound-healing therapies.
• The study provides insights into vacancy engineering for designing materials with improved biological functions.