Nanozyme-based synergistic therapy: FeCo-NC for effective bacterial eradication and wound tissue regeneration

Diseases caused by bacterial infections significantly threaten human health. However, the overuse of conventional antibiotics has led to rising drug resistance, necessitating the development of alternative antimicrobial strategies. In this study, we designed and synthesized a dual single-atom FeC nanozyme supported on nitrogen-doped carbon (NC), incorporating Fe single-atom sites, Co single-atom sites, and Fe-Co dual-atom sites. Characterization and theoretical calculations confirmed that the catalytic performance of FeCo-NC was superior to those of single-atom Fe-NC and Co-NC. Photothermal experiments demonstrated FeCo-NC's excellent photothermal properties and high photothermal conversion efficiency. Chemodynamic studies revealed its ability to efficiently catalyze H₂O₂ for generating reactive oxygen species, outperforming Fe-NC and Co-NC in catalytic kinetics. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that FeCo-NC effectively eliminated bacteria against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (99.36 %) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) (99.76 %) through the synergistic effects of photothermal therapy and chemodynamic therapy. Transcriptome analysis further showed that FeCo-NC altered bacterial gene expression related to growth, metabolism, and membrane structure, enhancing its antibacterial efficacy. Beyond its antimicrobial effects, FeCo-NC reduced inflammation at infected wound sites, promoted macrophage polarization, enhanced collagen deposition, and accelerated wound healing. This study presents a promising antibiotic-free strategy for the clinical treatment of infected wounds.