The enhanced visible light driven photocatalytic activity of zinc porphyrin/g-C3N4 nanosheet for efficient bacterial infected wound healing

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has received much attention as a metal-free polymeric two-dimensional photocatalyst for antibiotic-free antibacterial application. However, the weak photocatalytic antibacterial activity of pure g-C3N4 stimulated by visible light limits its applications. Herein, g-C3N4 is modified with Zinc (II) meso-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (ZnTCPP) by amidation reaction to enhance the utilization of visible light and reduce the recombination of electron-hole pairs. The compos-ite (ZP/CN) is used to treat bacterial infection under visible light irradiation with a high efficacy of 99.99% within 10 min due to the enhanced photocatalytic activity. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and density flooding theory calculations indicate the excellent electrical conductivity between the interface of ZnTCPP and g-C3N4. The formed built-in electric field is responsible for the high visible photocatalytic performance of ZP/CN. In vitro and in vivo tests have demonstrated that ZP/CN not only possesses excel-lent antibacterial activity upon visible light irradiation, but also facilitates the angiogenesis. In addition, ZP/CN also suppresses the inflammatory response. Therefore, this inorganic-organic material can serve as a promising platform for effective healing of bacteria-infected wounds.(c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has been widely studied as a metal-free polymeric photocatalyst for antibacterial application. However, its weak photocatalytic activity under visible light hinders its practical use. In this study, g-C3N4 was modified with Zinc (II) meso-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (ZnTCPP) to improve its utilization of visible light and reduce electron-hole recombination. The resulting composite (ZP/CN) exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity, achieving 99.99% bacterial inactivation within 10 minutes under visible light irradiation. The improved performance was attributed to the excellent electrical conductivity at the ZnTCPP-g-C3N4 interface. In vitro and in vivo tests demonstrated that ZP/CN not only possessed strong antibacterial activity, but also promoted angiogenesis and suppressed inflammation. Therefore, ZP/CN shows great potential as an effective platform for healing bacteria-infected wounds.