Cationic chitosan@Ruthenium dioxide hybrid nanozymes for photothermal therapy enhancing ROS-mediated eradicating multidrug resistant bacterial infection

Antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation are the main challenges of bacterial infectious diseases, and enhancing the permeability of drugs to biofilms may be a promising strategy. Herein, we constructed a cationic chitosan coated ruthenium dioxide nanozyme (QCS-RuO2@RBT, SRT NSs)。RuO2 nanosheets (RuO2 NSs) are modified with positively charged Quaternary ammonium-chitosan (QCS) to improve biocompatibility, and enhance the interaction between RuO2 nanozymes and bacterial membranes. An antibacterial drug, [Ru(bpy)2(tip)]2+ (RBT) can be loaded onto QCS-RuO2 by π-π stacking and hydrophobic interaction. SRT NSs exhibit NIR light enhanced peroxidase-like catalytic activity, thereby effectively fighting against planktonic bacteria and damaging biofilms. In the biofilm, extracellular DNA (eDNA) was cleaved by high levels of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) catalyzed by SRT NSs, thereby disrupting the rigid biofilm. In addition, in vivo studies demonstrate that SRT NSs can significantly rescue skin wound infections and the chronic lung infection in mice caused by P. aeruginosa, and hold the same therapeutic efficacy as first‐line clinically anchored anti P. aeruginosa drug ciprofloxacin. Accordingly, the research work has realized the efficient production of ·OH, and the permeability of drugs to biofilms.it provides a promising response strategy for the management of biofilm-associated infections, including chronic lung infection.