Metal-regulated MXene nanozyme with second near-infrared-triggered photothermal and chemodynamic synergy for anti-infection therapy and transcriptomic deciphering of antibacterial mechanisms.

Authors

Xue Qian, Hanrui Hou, Yixin Wei, Liu Zhang, Yifan Zhai, Guijuan Jiang, Lianghong Liu, Zhaobao Xiang, Xuan Tao, Xiangwen Liao, Xiaojun He

Published in

Journal of colloid and interface science. Volume 724. Issue Pt 1. Pages 141032. Jun 25, 2026. Epub Jun 25, 2026.

Abstract

The continuous use of antibiotics and the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, particularly Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), have become significant global health concerns. Therefore, it is imperative to explore non-antibiotic therapeutic options. Existing antimicrobial modalities, such as single-modality photothermal therapy (PTT), exhibit limited penetration depth and bacterial suppression and do not offer any advantageous biocatalytic activity. To address these challenges, we present a metal-regulated MXene nanozyme, Ag@V₂C, designed to facilitate synergistic PTT and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) under second near-infrared (NIR-II) irradiation. The localized surface plasmon resonance of the nanoplatform, along with the silver-decorated V₂C MXene, achieves a photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) of 52 ± 2% for deep-tissue photothermal ablation. Furthermore, Ag@V₂C functions as a nanozyme with inherent oxidase and peroxidase activities, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) for CDT. Under NIR-II irradiation, the catalytic and photothermal effects are significantly enhanced. Insights from density functional theory calculations elucidate the interactions between Ag@V₂C and its substrate, as well as the improved catalytic performance. Transcriptomic analysis indicates that treatment with Ag@V₂C disrupts key bacterial biosynthetic and metabolic pathways, including aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, pyrimidine metabolism, and central carbon metabolism. Consequently, it interferes with bacterial viability and resistance. In murine models of subcutaneous abscess and acute pneumonia, we demonstrate that Ag@V₂C under NIR-II radiation effectively cures deep MRSA infections, promotes wound closure, and alleviates pulmonary inflammation, all while exhibiting good biosafety. This research proposes an effective strategy to combat MRSA infections through metal-regulated nanozyme design, NIR-II-amplified synergistic therapy, and transcriptomic mechanistic insights, showcasing strong translational potential.

PMID:
42365711
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 29 Jun 2026.

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