AIEgen Intercalated Nanoclay-Based Photodynamic/Chemodynamic Theranostic Platform for Ultra-Efficient Bacterial Eradication and Fast Wound Healing

Abstract

With the emergence and global spread of bacterial resistance, pathogenic bacterial infections have become a serious threat to human health. Thus, therapeutic strategies with highly antibacterial efficacy and a low tendency to induce drug resistance are strongly desired to combat bacterial infections. Here, an ultra-efficient photodynamic/chemodynamic theranostics platform is developed by intercalating an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizer, TPCI, into the nanolayers of iron-bearing montmorillonite (MMT). The formed TPCI/MMT composite can not only perform efficient photodynamic therapy (PDT) through a burst generation of singlet oxygen (1O2) upon white light illumination but also continuously implement chemodynamic therapy (CDT) by converting endogenous hydrogen peroxide into highly toxic hydroxyl radicals (•OH) due to iron release. In addition, the fluorescence of TPCI/MMT can be activated due to the AIE feature of TPCI, which helps guide the location of the antimicrobials. The combination of such powerful bombs (PDT) and unremitting ambushes (CDT) in TPCI/MMT can synergistically and effectively eliminate bacteria and promote faster wound healing in vivo with good biocompatibility and low side effects. The smart and simple design of TPCI/MMT provides a representative paradigm for achieving efficient antimicrobials to combat the coming resistance crisis.

An Aggregation-Induced Emission Nanosensor for Real-Time Chemiluminescent Sensing of Light-Independent Intracellular Singlet Oxygen

“…The proven selectivity and sensitivity of the TPE-N­(Ph)-DBT-PH nanosensor reminded us of the challenge of sensing light-independent intracellular 1 O 2 . An MTT assay was performed to analyze the viability of CHO cells to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the TPE-N­(Ph)-DBT-PH nanosensor . As depicted in Figure S31, the viability of CHO cells remains above 90% even after a 48 h treatment by 160 μmol L –1 TPE-N­(Ph)-DBT-PH.…”

“…We investigated the cytotoxicity of the TPE-N­(Ph)-DBT-PH nanosensor through an MTT assay with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells . A 4 × 10 4 cell mL –1 amount of CHO cells was seeded in 96-well plates.…”

“…An MTT assay was performed to analyze the viability of CHO cells to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the TPE-N(Ph)-DBT-PH nanosensor. 23 As depicted in Figure S31, the viability of CHO cells remains above 90% even after a 48 h treatment by 160 μmol L −1 TPE-N(Ph)-DBT-PH. Such a result indicates negligible cytotoxicity, thereby implying the suitability of our nanosensor for cell application.…”

“…We investigated the cytotoxicity of the TPE-N(Ph)-DBT-PH nanosensor through an MTT assay with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. 23 A 4 × 10 4 cell mL −1 amount of CHO cells was seeded in 96-well plates. After 24 h of incubation, they was replaced by TPE-N(Ph)-DBT-PH-nanosensor (10,20,40,80, and 160 μmol L −1 )containing culture medium solutions, respectively.…”

AIE-Active Antibiotic Photosensitizer with Enhanced Fluorescence in Bacteria Infected Cells and Better Therapy Effect toward Drug-Resistant Bacteria

“…Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an emerging alternative to fight against bacteria . Photosensitizers (PSs) could produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon light irradiation, which could destroy the structure of the organism (e.g., bacterial membrane) to realize the therapeutic effect. − PDT could realize spatiotemporal control treatment, and it efficiently kills bacteria. More importantly, it hardly leads to the drug-resistant bacteria. − However, traditional hydrophobic PSs suffer from the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect in physiologically hydrophilic environments due to the strong π–π stacking interaction.…”