A Supramolecular‐Based Dual‐Wavelength Phototherapeutic Agent with Broad‐Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity Against Drug‐Resistant Bacteria

Abstract

With the ever‐increasing threat posed by the multi‐drug resistance of bacteria, the development of non‐antibiotic agents for the broad‐spectrum eradication of clinically prevalent superbugs remains a global challenge. Here, we demonstrate the simple supramolecular self‐assembly of structurally defined graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with a cationic porphyrin (Pp4N) to afford unique one‐dimensional wire‐like GNR superstructures coated with Pp4N nanoparticles. This Pp4N/GNR nanocomposite displays excellent dual‐modal properties with significant reactive‐oxygen‐species (ROS) production (in photodynamic therapy) and temperature elevation (in photothermal therapy) upon light irradiation at 660 and 808 nm, respectively. This combined approach proved synergistic, providing an impressive antimicrobial effect that led to the complete annihilation of a wide spectrum of Gram‐positive, Gram‐negative, and drug‐resistant bacteria both in vitro and in vivo. The study also unveils the promise of GNRs as a new platform to develop dual‐modal antimicrobial agents that are able to overcome antibiotic resistance.

A boronic acid-functionalized phthalocyanine with an aggregation-enhanced photodynamic effect for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria

“…, those caused by superbugs) now fail to respond to traditional first-line treatments. 1 – 4 This promotes a search for new therapeutic strategies. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective and alternative method for infection treatment.…”

“…In particular, the growing number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have complicated infection treatments, and some infections (e.g., those caused by superbugs) now fail to respond to traditional rst-line treatments. [1][2][3][4] This promotes a search for new therapeutic strategies. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective and alternative method for infection treatment.…”

Degradation of Structurally Defined Graphene Nanoribbons by Myeloperoxidase and the Photo‐Fenton Reaction

“…Meanwhile, these GNRs show excellent photothermal conversion efficiency . Through the cooperative self‐assembly of these GNRs with a cationic porphyrin (Pp4N) in aqueous solution, the resulting supramolecular GNR‐Pp4N hybrid nanowires show synergistic photodynamic and photothermal dual‐modal therapeutic capability, which enable the elimination of a wide spectrum of Gram‐positive, Gram‐negative, and drug‐resistant bacteria . As another typical example, Fischer's group introduced Cy5 fluorescent molecules to the edge of cove‐type GNRs with a uniform width of 1 nm .…”

Mesoporous silica-coated gold nanorods loaded with tetrazolyl phthalocyanine as NIR light-activated nano-switches for synergistic photothermal and photodynamic inactivation of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli

“…Various photothermal materials have been developed such as gold nanoparticles, 8 gold nanorods (AuNRs), 9 carbon nanotubes, 10 two dimensional MoS 2 11 and MnO 2 12 as well as graphene nanoribbons and their supermolecules. 13 Mesoporous silica-coated gold nanorods (AuNR-SiO 2 ) have aroused great interest as photothermal materials because of their tenable surface plasmon resonance and excellent light-to-heat energy conversion efficiency [14][15][16][17] as well as light controllable delivery of biomolecules into cytoplasm. 18 Besides, the large specific surface area of mesoporous silica guarantees a high drug payload and optimizes the lighttransparent window in the NIR region.…”

“…20 Photodynamic therapy (PDT) against microbial cells is also considered to be an alternative high-efficiency strategy to eliminate bacteria both in vitro and in vivo. 13,21,22 The antibacterial strategy uses a specific wavelength of light to activate photosensitizers (PSs), which react with oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill bacteria. Phthalocyanines (Pcs) and metal phthalocyanines (MPcs) have been used as promising photosensitisers for PDT of cancerous and noncancerous diseases.…”