NIR Light-Activated Nanocomposites Combat Biofilm Formation and Enhance Antibacterial Efficacy for Improved Wound Healing

Nanoparticle-based therapies are emerging as a pivotal frontier in biomedical research, showing their potential in combating infections and facilitating wound recovery. Herein, selenium-tellurium dopped copper oxide nanoparticles (SeTe-CuO NPs) with dual photodynamic and photothermal properties were synthesized, presenting an efficient strategy for combating bacterial infections. In vitro evaluations revealed robust antibacterial activity of SeTe-CuO NPs, achieving up to 99% eradication of bacteria and significant biofilm inhibition upon near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Moreover, in vivo studies demonstrated accelerated wound closure upon treatment with NIR-activated SeTe-CuO NPs, demonstrating their efficacy in promoting wound healing. Furthermore, SeTe-CuO NPs exhibited rapid bacterial clearance within wounds, offering a promising solution for wound care. Overall, this versatile platform holds great promise for combating multidrug-resistant bacteria and advancing therapeutic interventions in wound management. Metal-based nanoparticles are promising agents used for photothermal and photodynamic therapy, and as an efficient strategy against multi-drug resistant bacteria. Here, the authors report a one-pot synthesis of SeTe-CuO nanoparticles for such dual-mode therapy, achieving near-infrared activated eradication of bacteria and inhibition of biofilm formation in vitro, as well as promoting wound healing in vivo.