Synergistic antibacterial activity of streptomycin sulfate loaded PEG-MoS2/rGO nanoflakes assisted with near-infrared

Synergistic antibacterial strategies have received growing attention due to their significantly enhanced anti-bacterial activity. Herein, we demonstrated a synergistic antibacterial strategy based on streptomycin sulfate (SS) loaded polyethylene glycol-MoS2/reduced graphene oxide (PEG-MoS2/rGO) nanoflakes assisted with near-infrared (NIR). The nanoflakes of PEG-MoS2/rGO were ultrasonically exfoliated well from the nanoflowers of PEG-MoS2/rGO fabricated by hydrothermal method, which was of antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli after loading of SS. Under the irradiation of NIR, the antibacterial activity was significantly enhanced by the synergistic effects of physical damage, protein synthesis inhibition, thermal injury and oxidative stress. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of the nanoflakes was very low. The results suggest the great potential of PEG-MoS2/rGO-SS as a photothermal antibacterial agent.