Host–Guest-Interaction Enhanced Nitric Oxide Photo-Generation within a Pillar[5]arene Cavity for Antibacterial Gas Therapy

Abstract

Supramolecular macrocycles with intrinsic cavities have been widely explored as containers to fabricate versatile functional materials via specific host–guest recognitions. However, relatively few studies have focused on the modulation of guest reactivity within a macrocyclic cavity. Here, we demonstrate the confinement effect of pillar[5]­arene with an electron-rich and precise cavity that can dramatically enhance guest photoactivity and nitric oxide (NO) generation upon visible light irradiation. Mechanism studies reveal that it is achieved through increasing the ground state nitro-aromatic torsion angle, suppressing the intersystem crossing relaxation path of the S 1 state, and accelerating the isomerization reaction path of guest molecules. This NO-generating system displays broad-spectrum antibacterial, biofilm inhibition, and dispersal activities. Moreover, it can accelerate the healing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected wounds in vivo.