Open AccessPrecise Molecular Engineering of Type I Photosensitizers with Near‐Infrared Aggregation‐Induced Emission for Image‐Guided Photodynamic Killing of Multidrug‐Resistant Bacteria
Author(s) -
Xiao Peihong,
Shen Zipeng,
Wang Deliang,
Pan Yinzhen,
Li Ying,
Gong Junyi,
Wang Lei,
Wang Dong,
Tang Ben Zhong
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202104079
Subject(s) - multiple drug resistance , rational design , superoxide , escherichia coli , chemistry , photosensitizer , reactive oxygen species , bacteria , photodynamic therapy , intersystem crossing , photochemistry , combinatorial chemistry , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , materials science , biology , nanotechnology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , genetics , physics , nuclear physics , singlet state , excited state , gene , enzyme
Multidrug resistance (MDR) bacteria pose a serious threat to human health. The development of alternative treatment modalities and therapeutic agents for treating MDR bacteria‐caused infections remains a global challenge. Herein, a series of near‐infrared (NIR) anion– π + photosensitizers featuring aggregation‐induced emission (AIE‐PSs) are rationally designed and successfully developed for broad‐spectrum MDR bacteria eradication. Due to the strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and enhanced highly efficient intersystem crossing (ISC), these electron‐rich anion– π + AIE‐PSs show boosted type I reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capability involving hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anion radicals, and up to 99% photodynamic killing efficacy is achieved for both Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug resistant Escherichia coli (MDR E. coli ) under a low dose white light irradiation (16 mW cm −2 ). In vivo experiments confirm that one of these AIE‐PSs exhibit excellent therapeutic performance in curing MRSA or MDR E. coli ‐infected wounds with negligible side‐effects. The study would thus provide useful guidance for the rational design of high‐performance type I AIE‐PSs to overcome antibiotic resistance.