Two-dimensional TiO nanosheets with photothermal effects for wound sterilization

Abstract

To combat multidrug-resistant bacteria, researchers have poured into the development and design of antimicrobial agents. Here, low-cost two-dimensional (2D) antibacterial material titanium monoxide nanosheets (TiO NSs) were prepared by an ultrasonic-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation method. When cultured with bacteria, TiO NSs showed intrinsic antimicrobial capacity, possibly due to membrane damage caused by the sharp edges of TiO NSs. Under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation, TiO NSs showed high photothermal conversion efficiency (PTCE) and sterilization efficiency. By combining these two antibacterial mechanisms, TiO NSs exhibited a strong killing effect on Gram-negative Escherichia coli (<i>E. coli</i>) and Gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (<i>MRSA</i>). Especially after treatment with TiO NSs (150 μg mL^-1) +near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, both bacteria were completely killed. <i>In vivo</i> experiments on wound repair of bacterial infection further confirmed its antibacterial effect. In addition, TiO NSs had no obvious toxicity or side effects, so as a kind of broad-spectrum 2D antibacterial nanoagent, TiO NSs have broad application prospects in the field of pathogen infection.