A photoactivatable and phenylboronic acid-functionalized nanoassembly for combating multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria and their biofilms

Recent developments in photothermal therapy: a bibliometric and visual analysis

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has recently garnered significant attention as a prominent noninvasive treatment modality for a broad spectrum of diseases. Despite the increasing volume of scholarly output over the last 20 years, a holistic synthesis that delineates worldwide research trajectories remains elusive. We undertook a bibliometric analysis of the literature from 2004 to 2023, aiming to delineate the prevailing focal points and illuminate prospective research avenues. Research articles on PTT were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Using tools such as CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix, we comprehensively analyzed and visualized 11,184 published academic PTT papers. China has the highest number of publications. Journals related to PTT are primarily comprised of interdisciplinary and comprehensive journals. Research associated with PTT has focused primarily on its antitumor properties. Current focal areas in this domain include the synergistic combination of PTT with photodynamic therapy, immunological mechanisms of PTT to enhance its therapeutic efficacy, integrated use of PTT with nanoenzyme catalysis, and the role of PTT in antimicrobial applications. This bibliometric analysis provides an initial comprehensive examination of the medical applications of PTT, offering insights into the global research landscape, key areas of interest, and emerging trends, thereby serving as a valuable reference for future studies in this field.

Nanosheet-shaped WS2/ICG nanocomposite for photodynamic/photothermal synergistic bacterial clearance and cutaneous regeneration on infectious wounds

Bacterial infections present a significant threat to human health, a challenge that is intensified by the slow pace of novel antibiotic development and the swift emergence of bacterial resistance. The development of novel antibacterial agents is crucial. Indocyanine green (ICG), a widely used imaging dye, efficiently generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and heat for treating bacterial infections but suffers from aggregation and instability, limiting its efficacy. In this study, tungsten disulfide (WS₂) nanosheet with a high surface area was used to load ICG, creating a multifunctional nanocomposite, WS2/ICG, aimed at treating bacteria-infected wounds. The two-dimensional surface structure of WS₂ provides dispersible binding sites for ICG, and the synthesized nanocomposite exhibits excellent stability. Under near-infrared (NIR) laser excitation, the generated heat further synergistically enhances the yield of singlet oxygen. Additionally, the WS₂/ICG nanoplatform synergistically combines photothermal effect with photodynamic effect, achieving a "1 + 1 > 2" enhancement. Upon NIR laser excitation, the nanocomposite disrupts bacterial cell membranes through localized heating and ROS accumulation, leading to energy metabolism system disruption and subsequent bacterial lysis and death. The findings demonstrate WS₂/ICG's outstanding antibacterial properties and biocompatibility, effectively treating skin infections and promoting tissue regeneration, providing a simple and promising solution for bacteria-infected wounds.

Selection of biofilm-inhibiting ssDNA aptamers against antibiotic-resistant Edwardsiella tarda by inhibition-SELEX and interaction with their binding proteins

Biofilms can increase bacterial resistance to antibiotic therapies. Edwardsiella tarda with biofilm is highly resistant to antibacterial treatment, especially for the antibiotic-resistant strain. In this study, we obtained biofilm-inhibiting aptamers against antibiotic-resistant E. tarda via a novel systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) technique, called inhibition-SELEX. After four rounds of screening and validation, we identified aptamers IB1, IB2, and IB3, which demonstrated biofilm-inhibition and biofilm-degradation rates of 69 %, 75 %, and 62 % and 51 %, 63 %, and 45 % at 2 μmol/L, respectively, against antibiotic-resistant E. tarda. Magnetic separation, SDS-PAGE, and mass spectrometry analyses revealed that all three aptamers could bind to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), while IB2 could also bind to formate C-acetyltransferase (FA). Through molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, it was found that the four complexes primarily interact through hydrogen bonding. Among them, IB1-GAPDH exhibited the strongest stability, followed by IB2-FA, then IB2-GAPDH, and IB3-GAPDH was the least stable. Our results suggest that IB1, IB2, and IB3 may inhibit and degrade E. tarda biofilm by interfering with the synthesis, secretion, and transportation of its extracellular polysaccharides and proteins by interacting with GAPDH and FA.

Electrospun L-Lysine/Amorphous Calcium Phosphate Loaded Core-Sheath Nanofibers for Managing Oral Biofilm Infections and Promoting Periodontal Tissue Repairment

Introduction

Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease prevalent worldwide, is primarily treated through GTR for tissue regeneration. The efficacy of GTR, however, remains uncertain due to potential infections and the intricate microenvironment of periodontal tissue. Herein, We developed a novel core-shell structure multifunctional membrane using a dual-drug-loaded coaxial electrospinning technique (Lys/ACP-CNF), contains L-lysine in the outer layer to aid in controlling biofilms after GTR regenerative surgery, and ACP in the inner layer to enhance osteogenic performance for accelerating alveolar bone repair.

Methods

The biocompatibility and cell adhesion were evaluated through CCK-8 and fluorescence imaging, respectively. The antibacterial activity was assessed using a plate counting assay. ALP, ARS, and RT-qPCR were used to examine osteogenic differentiation. Additionally, an in vivo experiment was conducted on a rat model with acute periodontal defect and infection. Micro-CT and histological analysis were utilized to analyze the in vivo alveolar bone regeneration.

Results

Structural and physicochemical characterization confirmed the successful construction of the core-shell fibrous structure. Additionally, the Lys/ACP-CNF showed strong antibacterial coaggregation effects and induced osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs in vitro. The in vivo experiment confirmed that Lys/ACP-CNF promotes new bone formation.

Conclusion

Lys/ACP-CNF rapidly exhibited excellent antibacterial activity, protected PDLSCs from infection, and was conducive to osteogenesis, demonstrating its potential application for clinical periodontal GTR surgery.