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Updated: Jul 4, 2025
Author Spotlight: Metallic Nanocomposites to Eliminate Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Published on: October 4, 2024
Iron decoration in binary graphene oxide and copper iron sulfide nanocomposites boosting catalytic antibacterial
Xiaobin Guo1, Xiaogang Zhang1, Min Yu2
1Department of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, 137 South LiYuShan Road, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, China.
Abstract:
The strong antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and biofilm, especially the biofilm with extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) protection and persister cells, not only renders antibiotics ineffective but also causes chronic infections and makes the infectious tissue difficult to repair. Considering the acidic properties of bacterial infection microenvironment and biofilm, herein, a binary graphene oxide and copper iron sulfide nanocomposite (GO/CuFeSx NC) is synthesized by a surfactant free strategy and utilized as an alternative smart nanozyme to fight against the MDR bacteria and biofilm. For the GO/CuFeSx NC, the iron decoration facilitates the well distribution of bimetallic CuFeSx NPs on the GO surfaces compared to monometallic CuS NPs, providing synergistically enhanced peroxidase (POD)-like activity in acidic medium (pH 4 ∼ 5) and intrinsic strong near infrared (NIR) light responsive photothermal activity, while the ultrathin and sharp structure of 2D GO nanosheet allows the GO/CuFeSx NC to strongly interact with the bacteria and biofilm, facilitating the catalytic and photothermal attacks on the bacterial surfaces. In addition, the GO in GO/CuFeSx NC exhibits a "Pseudo-Photo-Fenton" effect to promote the ROS generation. Therefore, the GO/CuFeSx NC can effectively kill bacteria and biofilm both in vitro and in vivo, finally eliminating the infections and accelerating the tissue repair when treating the biofilm-infected wound. This work paves a new way to the design of novel nanozyme for smart antibacterial therapy against antimicrobial resistance.
Insights
A novel graphene oxide and copper iron sulfide nanocomposite (GO/CuFeSₓ NC) effectively combats multidrug-resistant bacteria and biofilms. This smart nanozyme utilizes enhanced catalytic and photothermal activities for effective antibacterial therapy and tissue repair.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Antimicrobial Research
Background:
- Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and biofilms pose significant challenges in treating chronic infections due to antibiotic ineffectiveness and impaired tissue repair.
- The acidic microenvironment of bacterial infections and biofilms presents an opportunity for targeted therapeutic strategies.
- Existing treatments struggle against biofilms protected by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and persister cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel nanozyme-based therapeutic agent to combat MDR bacteria and biofilms.
- To leverage the acidic microenvironment and near-infrared (NIR) light responsiveness for enhanced antibacterial efficacy.
- To investigate the potential of a graphene oxide and copper iron sulfide nanocomposite (GO/CuFeSₓ NC) as a smart nanozyme for infection treatment and tissue regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a binary graphene oxide and copper iron sulfide nanocomposite (GO/CuFeSₓ NC) using a surfactant-free strategy.
- Evaluation of the nanocomposite's peroxidase (POD)-like activity in acidic conditions (pH 4–5) and its photothermal activity under NIR light.
- Assessment of the GO/CuFeSₓ NC's ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) via a 'Pseudo-Photo-Fenton' effect.
- In vitro and in vivo testing of the nanocomposite's efficacy against MDR bacteria and biofilms, and its impact on infected tissue repair.
Main Results:
- The GO/CuFeSₓ NC demonstrated synergistically enhanced POD-like activity in acidic media and strong NIR light-responsive photothermal activity.
- The 2D structure of GO facilitated strong interaction with bacteria and biofilms, enabling efficient catalytic and photothermal attacks.
- The nanocomposite effectively generated ROS, contributing to bacterial and biofilm eradication.
- Successful elimination of both in vitro and in vivo bacterial infections and accelerated tissue repair in biofilm-infected wounds were observed.
Conclusions:
- The developed GO/CuFeSₓ NC acts as a smart nanozyme with dual catalytic and photothermal antibacterial properties.
- This nanozyme effectively overcomes antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by targeting MDR bacteria and biofilms.
- The findings present a promising new avenue for designing advanced nanozymes for smart antibacterial therapies and promoting wound healing.
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