Synergistic chemo-/photothermal therapy based on supercritical technology-assisted chitosan–indocyanine green/luteolin nanocomposites for wound healing

Abstract Despite the success, it is highly challenging to battle against pathogenic biofilms-based chronic bacterial infections by conventional antibiotic therapy. Herein, we report a near-infrared (NIR)/acid-induced nanoplatform based on chitosan (CS)-coated indocyanine green (ICG, photosensitizer)/luteolin (LUT, a natural quorum sensing inhibitor) nanocomposites (ICG/LUT-CS) as antibacterial and antibiofilm agents for skin wound healing. Initially, the ICG/LUT nanoplatforms are prepared by the supercritical antisolvent technology and coated with the CS layer. The obtained ICG/LUT-CS with ultra-high encapsulation efficiency exhibited more favorable photothermal conversion effects and improved NIR laser/acid dual-induced drug release behavior than individual modalities, achieving exceptional bacteria-killing and biofilm elimination effects. Moreover, the ICG/LUT-CS realized the synergetic effects of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy outcomes for wound healing. Together, our findings provided an appealing strategy for the rapid preparation and future translational application of ICG/LUT-CS as an ideal agent for fighting against biofilm infections.