Living Cell-Metal Cyborg Microalgae for Treating MRSA Infection

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Materials Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a significant threat, and their treatment is complicated by hypoxic infection environments.
• Metal-ion-based antibacterial agents often rely on reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are less effective in low-oxygen conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel live cell-metal hybrid system for enhanced antibacterial activity in hypoxic conditions.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of microalgae photosynthesis and metal nanoparticles in combating resistant bacteria and promoting tissue regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto the surface of *Chlorella vulgaris* (CV) microalgae.
• Evaluation of the AgNP@CV system's oxygen generation, ROS production, and antibacterial efficacy against MRSA.
• Assessment of the system's impact on angiogenesis and wound healing in a preclinical model.
• Exploration of the universality of the approach for other metal nanoparticles (CuNP@CV, ZnNP@CV).

Main Results:

• The AgNP@CV hybrid system effectively alleviates hypoxia through microalgae photosynthesis and enhances Ag ion-mediated ROS production.
• AgNP@CV demonstrated potent bactericidal activity against MRSA and significantly promoted wound healing and angiogenesis.
• The approach proved universal and cost-effective for generating other metal-NP@CV antibacterial systems.

Conclusions:

• Living cyborg AgNP@CV microalgae offer a sustainable and translatable strategy for treating resistant bacterial infections by combining self-oxygenation with synergistic metal ion therapy.
• This innovative approach overcomes the limitations of traditional antibacterial agents in hypoxic environments.
• The metal-NP@CV system holds promise for advanced wound care and combating antimicrobial resistance.