ZnO@MXene nanoplatform for near infrared induced elimination of drug resistant bacteria and Acceleration of infected wound healing

Drug-resistant bacterial wound infections, especially those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), pose a critical clinical challenge with limited effective therapeutic options. Here, we report a photothermally responsive nanoplatform, (ZWMx), engineered via hydrothermal synthesis to integrate efficient photothermal conversion, reactive oxygen species generation, and bacterial membrane disruption. The composite leverages the broad absorption in the near infrared region and excellent electrical conductivity of tungsten carbide MXene to overcome the photoinstability of ZnO, achieving a photothermal conversion efficiency of approximately 29.78 % and strong catalytic activity through reactive oxygen species. Upon irradiation at 808 nm, ZWMx rapidly eliminates over 90 % of MRSA in vitro within five minutes and disrupts established biofilms, indicating a synergistic and multifaceted bactericidal mechanism. In vivo , ZWMx promotes near-complete healing of MRSA-infected wounds within twelve days, with minimal thermal damage to surrounding tissues, high biocompatibility, and increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor one, suggesting enhanced angiogenesis. These findings establish a light-responsive therapeutic strategy for the targeted elimination of drug-resistant infections and effective stimulation of wound repair, providing a promising alternative to conventional antibiotic therapies.