Near-Infrared Light Triggered Phototherapy and Immunotherapy for Elimination of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Infection on Bone Implant

Clinically, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm infection inevitably induces the failure of bone implants. Herein, a hydrophilic and viscous hydrogel of poly(vinyl alcohol) modified with chitosan, polydopamine, and NO release donor was formed on a red phosphorus nanofilm deposited on a titanium implant (Ti-RP/PCP/RSNO). Under the irradiation of near-infrared light (NIR), peroxynitrite (•ONOO–) was formed by the reaction between the released NO and superoxide (•O2–) produced by the RP nanofilm. Specifically, we revealed the antibacterial mechanism of the ONOO– against the MRSA biofilm. In addition, osteogenic differentiation was promoted and inflammatory polarization was regulated by the released NO without NIR irradiation through upregulating the expression of Opn and Ocn genes and TNF-α. The MRSA biofilm was synergistically eradicated by •ONOO–, hyperthermia, and •O2– under NIR irradiation as well as the immunoreaction of the M1 polarization. The in vivo results also confirmed the excellent osteogenesis and biofilm eradication by released NO from the RP/PCP/RSNO system under NIR irradiation, indicating the noninvasive tissue reconstruction of MRSA-infected tissues through phototherapy and immunotherapy.