Programmable biological state-switching photoelectric nanosheets for the treatment of infected wounds

Recurrent bacterial infection is a major problem that threatens the tissue repair process. However, most current therapeutic strategies fail to deal with management of the overlap dynamics of bacterial killing and tissue repair. Here, in accord with the different responses of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells to electric potential, we developed high performance photoelectric BiOCl nanosheets that dynamically switch between conditions that favor either tissue regrowth or antibacterial microenvironments due to light stimulated and bi-modal switching of their surface electrical polarization. In vitro assays demonstrate that, under light illumination, the mannitol modified BiOCl nanosheets show high relative surface potential and achieve robust antibacterial performance. Conversely, under dark conditions, the nanosheets exhibit relatively low surface potential and promote Bone Marrow Stem Cell (BMSCs) proliferation. In vivo studies indicate that BiOCl nanosheets with light switch capabilities promote the significant regeneration of infected skin wounds. This work offers a new insight into treating recurrent bacterial infections with photoelectric biomaterials for light controlled selection of alternative electrical microenvironments, thereby benefiting the capability for either antisepsis or repair of damaged tissues.

Automated summary

This study developed high performance photoelectric BiOCl nanosheets that can dynamically switch between tissue regrowth and antibacterial microenvironments under light stimulation. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the nanosheets exhibit strong antibacterial performance under light illumination and promote stem cell proliferation in dark conditions.