Dual-functional bioinspired nanospray for accelerated wound healing: Visible light-activated bismuth composites

Infectious wound healing has garnered significant attention due to the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria, with photodynamic therapy (PDT) emerging as a promising non-invasive approach. Among PDT techniques, visible-light-activated therapies hold great potential. Nevertheless, current applications face critical challenges, such as non-specific targeting of bacteria, limited photodynamic efficacy, and insufficient oxygen supply. To resolve these limitations, the study introduces an innovative dual-functional bioinspired nanoparticle system. The aptamer-modified macrophage membranes enable high specificity and selectivity of the hybrid BiVO₄/BiOI toward S. aureus. Simultaneously, the heterojunction formed between BiVO₄ and BiOI quantum dots not only expands the photocatalytic active surface area but also significantly accelerates the separation of photogenerated charge carriers, thereby enhancing PDT activity. By utilizing visible-light irradiation to catalyze H₂O molecules, the system generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) independent of ambient oxygen levels, overcoming the limitation of oxygen content availability in traditional PDT approaches. Computational simulations further confirm that the generated ROS effectively disrupt bacterial phospholipid bilayers, enhancing bactericidal efficacy. A series of biological evaluations, including in vitro and in vivo antibacterial assays and cell migration studies, validate the dual-functional of the bioinspired nanoparticles in accelerating wound healing. Overall, this multifunctional bioinspired nanocomposite, with its targeted delivery, visible-light responsiveness, and potent antibacterial properties, demonstrates substantial promise for applications in treating infectious wounds. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Infectious wound healing has garnered significant attention due to the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria, with photodynamic therapy emerging as a promising non-invasive approach. The heterostructure formed between BiVO₄ and BiOI QDs exhibits highly efficient photocatalytic activity, which maximizes ROS production, leading to more effective bacterial eradication. To date, this specific heterostructure has not been extensively studied. Moreover, the aptamer-modified macrophage cell membranes achieve high specificity and selectivity of the hybrid BiVO₄/BiOI toward S. aureus. This multifunctional bioinspired nanocomposite, with its targeted delivery, visible-light responsiveness, and potent antibacterial properties, demonstrates substantial promise in medical field.