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Ultralow Loading Copper-Intercalated MoO3 Nanobelts with High Activity against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Hu Liu1, Yuhui Zuo1, Shiyang Lv1

  • 1College of Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Qingdao University, Ningxia Road 308, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, China.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|March 29, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Copper-intercalated MoO3 nanobelts act as nanoenzymes, effectively killing bacteria by generating reactive oxygen species and depleting glutathione. This novel approach offers a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Biochemistry
  • Antimicrobial Research

Background:

  • Rising antibiotic resistance and the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria pose significant global health threats.
  • There is an urgent need for novel antibiotic alternatives with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity.
  • Layered materials offer tunable properties through intercalation, presenting a strategy for developing new functional nanomaterials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To construct and evaluate copper-intercalated α-MoO3 nanobelts as nanoenzymes for antibacterial applications.
  • To investigate the synergistic antimicrobial mechanisms, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and glutathione (GSH) depletion.
  • To assess the efficacy of these nanobelts against clinically relevant MDR bacterial strains.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of copper-intercalated α-MoO3 nanobelts (MoO3-/Cu).
  • Characterization of material properties and catalytic activities (peroxidase, oxidase, catalase, glutathione oxidase-like).
  • Evaluation of ROS generation and GSH depletion in bacteria.
  • Assessment of antibacterial efficacy against ESBL-E. coli and MRSA.

Main Results:

  • Copper intercalation significantly enhanced the peroxidase (POD) activity and GSH depletion capacity of α-MoO3 nanobelts.
  • MoO3-/Cu nanobelts effectively induced POD, oxidase (OXD), and catalase (CAT) activities, leading to substantial ROS generation.
  • The nanobelts demonstrated glutathione oxidase (GSHOx)-like activity, depleting intracellular GSH and enhancing bactericidal effects.
  • Excellent antimicrobial efficiency was observed against ESBL-E. coli and MRSA at low concentrations (20 μg mL-1).

Conclusions:

  • Copper-intercalated MoO3 nanobelts function as multi-enzyme nanozymes with potent synergistic antibacterial activity.
  • The combined ROS generation and GSH depletion mechanisms provide an effective strategy against MDR bacteria.
  • This study highlights the potential of MoO3-/Cu nanobelts as a promising platform for developing advanced antibacterial and anti-infective agents.
Keywords:
MoO3−x/Cu nanobeltsantibacterialcopper intercalationglutathione depletionreactive oxygen species

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