Full Solar-Spectrum-Driven Antibacterial Therapy over Hierarchical Sn3O4/PDINH with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

Antibacterial photocatalytic therapy (APCT) is considered to be a potential treatment for administrating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, due to the low photocatalytic efficiency and weak ability to capture bacteria, it is not practically applied. In this work, an organic-metal oxide hybrid semiconductor heterostructure is fabricated for the photocatalytic generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill the drug-resistant bacteria. The organic semiconductor, perylene diimide (PDI), can self-assemble on Sn3O4 nanosheets to form a hook-and-loop sticky surface that can capture bacteria, via large numbers of hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking interactions, which are not possible in inorganic semiconductors. This easy-to-fabricate hybrid semiconductor also possesses improved photocatalytic activity, which is owing to the formation of heterostructure that achieves full-spectrum absorption, and the reduction of the photocarrier recombination rate to produce more reactive oxygen species. It has a good promoting effect on the wounds of mice infected by Staphylococcus aureus. This work shows new ideas for fabricating smart full-spectrum inorganic-organic hybrid adhesive heterostructure photocatalysts for antibacterial photocatalytic therapy.

Automated summary

This study fabricated an organic-metal oxide hybrid semiconductor heterostructure for photocatalytic generation of reactive oxygen species to kill drug-resistant bacteria, with the ability to capture bacteria and improved photocatalytic activity. It showed a promoting effect on treating Staphylococcus aureus-infected wounds in mice, providing new ideas for smart full-spectrum inorganic-organic hybrid adhesive heterostructure photocatalysts for antibacterial photocatalytic therapy.