Dendrite-Structured and Multienzyme-Like AuCu@Pd Metallic Hydrogels for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat, reducing antibiotic efficacy.
• Metallic nanozymes, like hydrogels, offer potential solutions against drug-resistant bacteria.
• Developing novel nanomaterials is crucial for advancing antibacterial therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an innovative AuCu@Pd hydrogel nanozyme for combating drug-resistant bacterial infections.
• To investigate the antibacterial mechanisms, including ROS generation and microenvironment modulation.
• To evaluate the hydrogel's efficacy in treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin wound infections.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of AuCu@Pd hydrogel nanozymes using a facile water/ethanol-phase method.
• Characterization of hydrogel structure, morphology, and multienzyme-like activities (peroxidase-like and oxidase-like).
• Assessment of antibacterial efficacy against MRSA and Escherichia coli (E. coli), including ROS generation and in vivo wound healing studies.

Main Results:

• AuCu@Pd hydrogels were synthesized with dendritic and core-shell structures in 40 minutes.
• Hydrogels exhibited potent POD-like and OD-like activities, generating cytotoxic ROS.
• Effective depletion of glutathione (GSH) enhanced ROS production and bactericidal effects.
• High photothermal conversion efficiency (61.1%) and stability boosted antibacterial activity.
• Excellent in vivo biocompatibility and accelerated healing of MRSA-infected skin wounds.

Conclusions:

• The developed AuCu@Pd hydrogel nanozyme presents a promising strategy for synergistic antibacterial therapy.
• This approach effectively combats MRSA infections through ROS generation and photothermal effects.
• The study provides novel insights into designing efficient metallic hydrogels for biomedical applications.