Highly efficient disinfection based on multiple enzyme-like activities of Cu3P nanoparticles: A catalytic approach to impede antibiotic resistance

Cu 3 P nanoparticles (NPs) were proposed as an efficient antibacterial agent for impeding bacterial resistance. Both sensitive and resistant strains of E. coli and S. aureus (3 × 10 6 CFU mL −1 ), and the microbial populations from a fishery water were completely inactivated by Cu 3 P NPs (≤ 1.5 µg mL −1 ) within 30 min with no regrowth. The antibacterial mechanism of Cu 3 P NPs relied on their own multiple enzyme-like activities, to elucidate, the action of ROS produced by their oxidase- and peroxidase- like activities was facilitated by their inherent activities for glutathione depletion and the lipid peroxidation. Comparing with that traditional antibiotics induced bacterial resistance (6 out of 7) within 3 passages, Cu 3 P NPs kept their initially inactivated efficiency, demonstrating that they can delay the onset of bacterial resistance. Furthermore, the Cu 3 P NPs shown no obviously toxic effect on aquatic organisms and a negligible side-effect toward mammalian tissues. This strategy is insightful for struggle with resistant bacteria.