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Updated: May 14, 2026

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activities of Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Surfaces In Vitro
11:52

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activities of Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Surfaces In Vitro

Published on: April 21, 2023

Microenvironment Magnesium Overload Disrupts Bacterial Membrane Functions for the Central Nervous System Infection

Yihan Chen1,2, Yuanqing Ding3, Wencheng Wu4

  • 1State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, P. R. China.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|May 13, 2026
PubMed

Insights

A novel magnesene nanosheet effectively combats bacterial central nervous system (CNS) infections by disrupting bacterial membranes. This inorganic nanomedicine shows promise for treating difficult CNS infections and other microbial pathogens.

Area of Science:

  • Nanomedicine
  • Inorganic chemistry
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Bacterial central nervous system (CNS) infections are life-threatening with high mortality.
  • Limited drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier and antimicrobial toxicity hinder treatment.
  • Novel therapeutic strategies are crucial for combating refractory CNS infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel nanomedicine for treating bacterial CNS infections.
  • To investigate the antimicrobial mechanism of magnesene nanosheets.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of magnesene in preclinical CNS infection models.

Main Methods:

  • Two-dimensional magnesene nanosheets were synthesized via ultrasound exfoliation of magnesium.
  • The antimicrobial activity of magnesene was assessed against bacterial pathogens in vitro.
  • Efficacy was evaluated in rat CNS infection models, including assessment of neuroinflammation.

Main Results:

  • Magnesene releases Mg2+ ions, causing magnesium overload and mechanical membrane disruption in bacteria.
  • Magnesene demonstrated potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
  • In vivo studies showed magnesene suppressed bacterial proliferation and reduced neuroinflammation in rat CNS infection models.

Conclusions:

  • Magnesene is a promising inorganic nanomedicine for treating bacterial CNS infections.
  • The dual mechanism of action provides potent bactericidal effects.
  • Magnesene offers a potential new therapeutic avenue for diverse microbial pathogens.

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