Novel Antibiotic-Derived Silicon Dots with Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Activity and Efficient Wound Healing...

The escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance poses a critical challenge to global health. Silicon-based nanomaterials, with their unique physicochemical properties, have recently emerged as promising agents in the development of novel antibacterial strategies. This study reports the successful synthesis of silicon nanodots with potent antibacterial activity, prepared using a combination of silane precursors and antibiotics. Nanodots generated from the silane DAMO and gentamicin (referred to as DAG-Si Ds) exhibited strong broad-spectrum antibacterial efficacy while displaying a low propensity to induce bacterial resistance. Mechanistic investigations revealed that DAG-Si Ds exert their antibacterial effects by disrupting bacterial membranes and binding to, as well as degrading, genomic DNA. In vivo studies further demonstrated that DAG-Si Ds significantly reduced bacterial burden at infection sites and promoted wound healing. Similarly, the release of SiO₃ ^2- ions is observed to increase angiogenesis, contributing to tissue repair. DAG-Si Ds displayed minimal cytotoxicity and negligible systemic toxicity. These findings highlight DAG-Si Ds as a promising antibacterial platform and provide a foundation for the development of next-generation anti-infective strategies.