Light-Activatable Nanotherapeutic Platform Synchronizing ROS-Mediated Antibacterial Action with Macrophage
Xinyue Guo1,2,3, Hongru Li1,2, Yu Chen1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, P. R. China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|August 13, 2025
Summary
A novel nanocomposite effectively treats drug-resistant wound infections by combining photothermal therapy, chemodynamic therapy, and immunomodulation. This approach eradicates bacteria, resolves inflammation, and promotes tissue regeneration for enhanced wound healing.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Persistent drug-resistant bacterial infections in wounds present a significant global health challenge.
- Current treatments often fail to address bacterial eradication, inflammation, and tissue regeneration concurrently.
- Innovative strategies are needed to reprogram the wound microenvironment for effective healing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a multifunctional nanocomposite for treating drug-resistant bacterial wound infections.
- To achieve simultaneous bacterial eradication, inflammation resolution, and tissue regeneration.
- To develop a clinically translatable solution for antimicrobial resistance.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of BSA-(Au@Ag/CeO2) nanocomposites utilizing gold-silver nanoparticles and cerium dioxide.
- Implementation of dual-modality photothermal-chemodynamic therapy activated by near-infrared laser irradiation.
- Evaluation of bactericidal efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), biofilm disruption, and immunomodulatory effects on macrophage polarization.
- Assessment of biosafety in vital organs.
Main Results:
- The nanocomposite demonstrated enhanced bactericidal efficacy against MRSA via membrane disruption and ROS-induced oxidative stress.
- Dual photothermal-chemodynamic therapy effectively disrupted bacterial biofilms.
- The nanosystem suppressed proinflammatory cytokine storms and promoted M2 macrophage polarization, fostering a regenerative microenvironment.
- Biosafety assessments confirmed no discernible toxicity in vital organs.
Conclusions:
- The developed multifunctional platform offers a paradigm-shifting strategy for managing antibiotic-resistant wound infections.
- This approach effectively reprograms the wound microenvironment, leading to bacterial eradication, inflammation resolution, and accelerated tissue regeneration.
- The nanocomposite presents a promising, clinically translatable solution to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
