Sunflower Pollen-Morphology Mimicked Spiky Zinc Nanomotors as a Photosensitizer for Killing Bacteria and Cancer Cells.
Sayan Deb DuttaRachmi LuthfikasariTejal V PatilKeya GangulyYoujin SeolAayushi RandhawaKi-Taek LimPublished in: ACS applied bio materials (2024)
Photosensitizing agents have received increased attention from the medical community, owing to their higher photothermal efficiency, induction of hyperthermia, and sustained delivery of bioactive molecules to their targets. Micro/nanorobots can be used as ideal photosensitizing agents by utilizing various physical stimuli for the targeted killing of pathogens (e.g., bacteria) and cancer cells. Herein, we report sunflower-pollen-inspired spiky zinc oxide (s-ZnO)-based nanorobots that effectively kill bacteria and cancer cells under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. The as-fabricated s-ZnO was modified with a catechol-containing photothermal agent, polydopamine (PDA), to improve its NIR-responsive properties, followed by the addition of antimicrobial (e.g., tetracycline/TCN) and anticancer (e.g., doxorubicin/DOX) drugs. The fabricated s-ZnO/PDA@Drug nanobots exhibited unique locomotory behavior with an average speed ranging from 13 to 14 μm/s under 2.0 W/cm 2 NIR light irradiation. Moreover, the s-ZnO/PDA@TCN nanobots exhibited superior antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. epidermidis under NIR irradiation. The s-ZnO/PDA@DOX nanobots also displayed sufficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) amplification in B16F10 melanoma cells and induced apoptosis under NIR light, indicating their therapeutic efficacy. We hope the sunflower pollen-inspired s-ZnO nanorobots have tremendous potential in biomedical engineering from the phototherapy perspective, with the hope to reduce pathogen infections.
Keyphrases
- photodynamic therapy
- room temperature
- drug release
- quantum dots
- visible light
- cancer therapy
- fluorescence imaging
- reduced graphene oxide
- induced apoptosis
- reactive oxygen species
- drug delivery
- fluorescent probe
- healthcare
- mental health
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- light emitting
- staphylococcus aureus
- signaling pathway
- cell death
- oxidative stress
- dna damage
- emergency department
- multidrug resistant
- radiation induced
- ionic liquid
- gold nanoparticles
- drug induced
- pseudomonas aeruginosa
- nucleic acid