Development and antibacterial evaluation of a dopamine-modified curcumin@zinc-based organic framework

Antibiotics are crucial for treating and preventing bacterial infections. However, the widespread use of antibiotics has led to serious antibiotic resistance issues. To address the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, we designed and synthesized an antibacterial composite material, CCM@ZIF-8@PDA, through a one-pot method and surface modification strategy. This material combines the antibacterial properties of the natural product curcumin, the advantages of ZIF-8, and the photothermal conversion capability of PDA. It exhibits three antibacterial mechanisms against S. aureus: chemical antibacterial, ionic antibacterial, and photothermal antibacterial effects. At a low concentration of 100 ppm, CCM@ZIF-8@PDA achieves a 100% antibacterial rate. This multi-modal antibacterial strategy provides insights for developing new antibacterial materials to combat antibiotic resistance.