Nanosilver-decorated covalent organic frameworks for enhanced photodynamic, photothermal, and antibacterial properties

Bacterial infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria pose an extremely serious treat to human health However, nanoscale antibacterial materials can effectively inhibit bacterial growth without inducing bacterial resistance. Herein, we have developed a highly effective antibacterial agent by immobilizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) within a novel covalent organic framework (COF). The COFBDP/CD-S-3-Ag system was synthesized in situ using BODIPY phoyosensitizer (BDP) and carbon quantum dots (CD-S-3) as precursors. The optimized COFBDP/CD-S-3-Ag system exhibited excellent photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). Importantly, the COFBDP/CD-S-3-Ag system, with many active groups, can capture and kill bacteria effectively by interacting with them, thereby contributing to improved antibacterial efficacy. As expected, the designed COFBDP/CD-S-3-Ag system combines the advantages of COFBDP/CD-S-3 (preventing the aggregation of AgNPs and having the ability to capture bacteria) and AgNPs (antibacterial ability), demonstrating excellent antibacterial efficacy. This study developed a new class of antibacterial materials and took an important step forward in promoting the application of COF-based antibacterial materials.