Mechanistic Insight into the Light-Irradiated Carbon Capsules as an Antibacterial Agent

Infections caused by bacteria are a growing global challenge for public health as bacteria develop resistance, which will cause the failure of anti-infective treatment eventually. An effective alternative strategy to traditional antibacterial therapy is utilizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill bacteria. Here, we report a simple route to prepare PEGylated nitrogen-doped carbon capsules (PEG-N-CCs) as an antibacterial agent. The PEG-N-CCs can translate near-infrared light (NIR) into heat and produce a high concentration of ROS triggered by NIR irradiation. Both heating and ROS are critical to destroy the outer membranes and rupture cell bodies, causing DNA fragmentation and glutathione oxidation both in Gram-negative Escherichia coli, Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, and their multidrug-resistant strains. Moreover, PEG-N-CCs plus NIR irradiation can efficiently scavenge the existing biofilms and prevent the formation of new biofilms, killing planktonic bacteria as well as those within the biofilm. Our studies prove that the PEG-N-CCs plus NIR irradiation can provide a simple and effective platform for combating bacteria, employing carbon nanomaterials as an antibacterial alternative for treatment of infectious diseases

Additional file 1 of Mackinawite nanozymes as reactive oxygen species scavengers for acute kidney injury alleviation

Additional file 1: Figure S1. The release trend of hydrogen polysulfide from GFeSNs. Figure S2. Iron ions released from different concentrations of GFeSNs in PBS solution. Figure S3. AFM image of GFeSNs and the corresponding height analysis. Figure S4. •OH scavenging ratio of the GFeSNs. Figure S5. O2•− scavenging efficiency and •OH scavenging ratio of GSH. Figure S6. O2•− scavenging efficiency of GFeSNs after 24 h and 48 h in PBS. Figure S7. CAT-like activity of GFeSNs. Figure S8. Different enzyme-like activity of GFeSNs under different pH conditions. Figure S9. SEM of GFeSNs after dispersed in distilled water for 24 h, 48 h, and 96 h, respectively. Figure S10. In vitro hemolysis test of GFeSNs. Figure S11. In vivo toxicity evaluation of GFeSNs to major organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney) 7 days and 30 days after intravenous administration. Figure S12. Serum biochemistry assay and complete blood panel data of mice intravenously injected with PBS or GFeSNs at 24 h