A rational design of copper-selenium nanoclusters that cures sepsis by consuming endogenous H 2 S to trigger photothermal therapy and ROS burst.

The treatment of sepsis caused by bacterial infections is still a huge clinical challenge. As sepsis causes high levels of endogenous H 2 S in vivo , researchers can design nanomedicines to treat sepsis by in situ sulfurization. Here, we designed and synthesized Cu 2 O-coated non-metallic core-shell selenium nanoparticles. To cure mice sepsis by ROS burst. Our experimental data displayed that the photothermal effect of Se@Cu 9 S 8 produced by the reaction of Se@Cu 2 O and endogenous H 2 S is synergistically antibacterial, and Se@Cu 2 O has the characteristics of low side effects and high biocompatibility. In summary, our research results verified our design, that copper-selenium nanoclusters may be an efficient strategy to cure sepsis by in situ sulfurization of endogenous H 2 S, triggering ROS eruptions and photothermal therapy.