Layer-Restacked 3D Ti₃C₂ Nanostructures with Efficient Photothermal Antibacterial Activities

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections pose a significant global health threat, exacerbated by antibiotic misuse.
• Developing novel antimicrobial strategies is crucial to combat the rise of antibiotic resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a layer-restacked 3D Ti3C2 nanostructure for photothermal antimicrobial applications.
• To investigate the antibacterial efficacy and mechanism of the 3D Ti3C2 nanostructure against MDR bacteria.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a layer-restacked 3D Ti3C2 nanostructure using ice-templating.
• Evaluation of the nanostructure's physical and photothermal properties.
• Assessment of antibacterial activity against MDR Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation.
• Transcriptome analysis to elucidate the mechanism of action.

Main Results:

• The 3D Ti3C2 nanostructure demonstrated excellent hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, stability, and photothermal conversion efficiency.
• Significant antibacterial activity was observed against MDR E. coli and S. aureus upon NIR irradiation.
• The photothermal mechanism involves bacterial membrane damage and disruption of metabolic processes.
• Downregulation of the DNA-binding transcriptional activator EvgA was observed, potentially inhibiting drug resistance.

Conclusions:

• The layer-restacked 3D Ti3C2 nanostructure is a highly effective photothermal antimicrobial agent against MDR bacteria.
• This nanostructure offers a promising alternative therapeutic strategy to address the challenge of antibiotic resistance.