Copper- and iodine-doped nanozymes with simulated enzyme activity and efficient antifungal activity against Candida albicans

Nanozymes are next-generation antifungal agents with enzyme-like characteristics and negligible biological toxicity owing to their ability to catalyze the production of reactive oxygen species. Herein, copper- and iodine-doped carbon dots (Cu/I-CDs) with intrinsic peroxidase-like antifungal activity are synthesized via a simple one-step hydrothermal approach. These Cu/I-CDs enhance the decomposition of H 2 O 2 to generate •OH and efficiently kill Candida albicans . With an exogenous H 2 O 2 concentration of only 0.5 mM, a low Cu/I-CDS concentration of just 0.585 mg/mL is required to achieve a 10% survival rate of C. albicans upon irradiation for 90 min with a light-emitting diode (16 W). The Cu/I-CD nanozyme effectively destroys C. albicans biofilms without causing significant toxicity both in vitro and in vivo. The prepared Cu/I-CDs accelerate the death of C. albicans in mouse wounds and vaginal models, thereby promoting wound healing and treating vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in mice. The high biocompatibility of the Cu/I-CDs was verified by hemolysis and MTT assays . The Cu/I-CD nanozyme synthesized in this study shows great potential for application as an antifungal agent and may replace common existing antifungal drugs.