Phototherapeutic antibacterial applications of AIE-active antibiotic photosensitizer

Since the discovery of antibiotics, they have been the best strategy for humans to combat bacterial infections, but with the unregulated use of these antibiotics by humans, the problem of antibiotic resistance has gradually emerged. And this is also the most troublesome problem in bacterial infections now. Applying aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials to the antibacterial field can be a key strategy to overcome this problem, and numerous studies have highlighted the superiority of AIE materials in this area. Their unique optical properties enable them not only to play a crucial role in bacterial visualization but also to possess photodynamic antibacterial activity. So far, there have been many studies on antibacterial drugs with AIE properties and modifying them to have AIE properties. They have the following advantages over antibiotics: (i) Broad-spectrum antibacterial activity; (ii) Reduction of antibiotic resistance; (iii) Controllability; (iv) Low toxicity; (v) High tissue selectivity. This review explores the antibacterial strategy of combining marketed antibacterial drugs with AIE, conducts research on their antibacterial activity and antibacterial mechanisms. It summarizes the development trends of the antibacterial strategy of combining antibiotics with AIE in bacterial research, and is expected to provide future research directions for advancing bacterial methodology.