Synergetic Lipid Extraction with Oxidative Damage Amplifies Cell-Membrane-Destructive Stresses and Enables Rapid Sterilization

Here, we introduce an innovative poison arrowhead approach for disinfection based on a nanosheet bacterial inactivation system that acts synergistically to achieve sterilization rates of >99.99 % (Escherichia coli) over an ultrashort time period (approximate to 0.5 min). The two-dimensional MoS2 arrowhead configuration has a sharp edge structure that enables the vigorous extraction of lipids from cell membranes and subsequent membrane disruptions. In the presence of permonosulfate, a strong oxidant, sulfur vacancies containing MoS2 activate the stable molecules, which in turn produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) from edge sites to basal areas. This process not only scavenges some portion of the phospholipids to allow for MoS2 surface refreshment but also directly attacks proteins thereby inflicting further damage to injured cells and amplifying the cell-membrane-destructive stresses toward pathogenic microorganisms. With small amounts of the new material, we successfully disinfected natural water (approximate to 99.93 % inactivation in terms of total bacteria) within 30 s.

Automated summary

The innovative poison arrowhead approach using two-dimensional MoS2 nanosheets and permonosulfate generates reactive oxygen species and reduces phospholipids, leading to bacterial inactivation and enhanced damage to injured cells.