Metal–Organic Framework/Ag-Based Hybrid Nanoagents for Rapid and Synergistic Bacterial Eradication

Recent emerged metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as superior drug carriers, provide novel strategies to combat pathogenic bacterial infections. Although various antibacterial metal ions can be easily introduced in MOFs for chemical bacterial ablation, such a single-model bactericidal method suffers from high-dose use, limited antibacterial efficiency, and slow sterilization rate. Hence, developing a dual bactericidal system is urgently required. Herein, we report an MOF/Ag-derived nanocomposite with efficient metal-ion-releasing capability and robust photo-to-thermal conversion effect for synergistic sterilization. The MOF-derived nanocarbon consisting of metallic zinc and a graphitic-like carbon framework is first synthesized, and then Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) are evenly introduced via the displacement reaction between Zn and Ag⁺. Upon near-infrared irradiation, the fabricated nanoagents can generate massive heat to destroy bacterial membranes. Meanwhile, abundant Zn²⁺ and Ag⁺ ions are released to make chemical damage to bacterial intracellular substances. Systematic antibacterial experiments reveal that such dual-antibacterial effort can endow the nanoagents with nearly 100% bactericidal ratio for highly concentrated bacteria at a very low dosage (0.16 mg/mL). Furthermore, the nanoagents exhibit less cytotoxicity, which provides potential possibilities for the applications in the biological field. In vivo assessment indicates that the nanocomposites can realize rapid and safe wound sterilization and are expected to be an alternative to antibiotics. Overall, we present an easily fabricated structure-engineered nanocomposite with chemical and photothermal effects for broad-spectrum bacterial sterilization.