Bimetallic Metal–Organic Framework Microneedle Array for Wound Healing through Targeted Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Electron Transfer Disruption

Abstract

The development of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based antibacterial strategies that overcome ROS's ultrashort diffusion distance and disrupt bacterial electron transfer represents a promising yet underexplored avenue for nonantibiotic therapies. In this study, we introduce an iron-copper bimetallic metal-organic framework (MOF) with peroxidase (POD)-like enzymatic activity engineered to integrate dual functionalities: bactericidal recognition and electron transfer disruption to synergistically enhance antibacterial efficacy. Mechanistic investigations reveal that boronic-acid-cis-diol interactions enable the MOF to selectively bind to bacterial membranes, where it generates localized ROS, effectively killing bacteria. Concurrently, the alignment of MOF energy levels with the bacterial redox potential facilitates efficient electron transfer from the bacterial membrane to the MOFs, disrupting membrane integrity and inhibiting critical processes such as electron transport and ATP synthesis. When incorporated into biodegradable microneedle patches, the MOF effectively penetrates biofilms and wound exudates, delivering potent antibacterial effects directly to infection sites while simultaneously promoting tissue repair. This strategic combination of bactericidal targeting, electron transfer disruption, and microneedle-mediated delivery highlights the potential of this approach to advance nonantibiotic antibacterial therapies.