| Affiliation: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, Center for Aggregation-Induced Emission, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640 China These authors contributed equally to this work.;2. State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, Center for Aggregation-Induced Emission, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640 China;3. Department of Medical Research, General Hospital of Southern Theater Command, PLA, Guangzhou, 510010 China;4. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 China;5. Animal Experiment Centery, General Hospital of Southern Theater Command, PLA, Guangzhou, 510010 China |
| Abstract: | New, biocompatible materials with favorable antibacterial activity are highly desirable. In this work, we develop a unique conjugated polymer featuring aggregation-induced emission (AIE) for reliable bacterial eradication. Thanks to the AIE and donor-π-acceptor structure, this polymer shows a high reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generation ability compared to a low-mass model compound and the common photosensitizer Chlorin E6. Moreover, the selective binding of pathogenic microorganisms over mammalian cells was found, demonstrating its biocompatibility. The effective growth inhibition of bacteria upon polymer treatment under light irradiation was validated in vitro and in vivo. Notably, the recovery from infection after treatment with our polymer is faster than that with cefalotin. Thus, this polymer holds great promise in fighting against bacteria-related infections in practical applications. |
