Highly efficient disinfection based on multiple enzyme-like activities of Cu3P nanoparticles: A catalytic approach to impede antibiotic resistance

Cu3P nanoparticles (NPs) were proposed as an efficient antibacterial agent for impeding bacterial resistance. Both sensitive and resistant strains of E. coli and S. aureus (3 × 106 CFU mL−1), and the microbial populations from a fishery water were completely inactivated by Cu3P NPs (≤ 1.5 µg mL−1) within 30 min with no regrowth. The antibacterial mechanism of Cu3P NPs relied on their own multiple enzyme-like activities, to elucidate, the action of ROS produced by their oxidase- and peroxidase- like activities was facilitated by their inherent activities for glutathione depletion and the lipid peroxidation. Comparing with that traditional antibiotics induced bacterial resistance (6 out of 7) within 3 passages, Cu3P NPs kept their initially inactivated efficiency, demonstrating that they can delay the onset of bacterial resistance. Furthermore, the Cu3P NPs shown no obviously toxic effect on aquatic organisms and a negligible side-effect toward mammalian tissues. This strategy is insightful for struggle with resistant bacteria.