Stimulus-responsive metal-phenolic network nanomaterials for treating bacterial infections

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Bacterial infections, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm formation pose significant global health threats.
• Traditional antibiotics have limitations like short half-lives, poor targeting, adverse effects, and resistance induction.
• Novel therapies are crucial to overcome these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the structural characteristics, biosafety, and antimicrobial mechanisms of metal-phenolic networks (MPNs).
• To summarize advancements in MPN applications triggered by endogenous and exogenous stimuli.
• To analyze challenges and prospects for clinical translation of stimulus-responsive MPNs.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of literature on metal-phenolic networks (MPNs).
• Analysis of MPN structural properties, biosafety, and antimicrobial mechanisms.
• Summary of MPN applications based on stimulus-responsive triggers (endogenous and exogenous).

Main Results:

• Metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) exhibit excellent biocompatibility, tunable structures, and stimulus-responsive properties.
• MPNs demonstrate multidimensional antimicrobial mechanisms beyond traditional single-target approaches.
• Advancements show MPNs triggered by pH, ROS, enzymes, light, electricity, and heat offer potent antimicrobial activity.

Conclusions:

• Stimulus-responsive MPNs represent a promising platform for next-generation anti-infective nanomedicines.
• Further research is needed to address challenges for clinical translation.
• MPNs offer theoretical foundations for designing precision anti-infective therapies.