Boric acid-substituted phthalocyanine/ciprofloxacin co-assembled nanoparticles for constructing bacteria-responsive intelligent wound dressings with synergistic therapy and recognition of bacterial infections

In contemporary times, the waning effectiveness of antibiotics against bacterial infections is progressively giving rise to significant concerns in public health. Although photodynamic technology possesses a potent ability to deactivate bacteria, its non-selective attack on normal cells poses potential side effects. Hence, in this study, a boric acid-substituted phthalocyanine photosensitizer (BAPc) was synthesized, exhibiting remarkable bacterial targeting capability. BAPc was assembled with antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) followed by the integration into polylysine-modified alginate dressing to obtain the product BAPc-CIP@AD-PL. Interestingly, the release of antibacterial agents and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from BAPc-CIP@AD-PL can be triggered by bacteria, thereby eliciting synergistic bactericidal effect and effectively promoting wound healing in bacterial infections. Additionally, the fluorescence of BAPc-CIP@AD-PL can be activated by bacteria, facilitating the recognition of bacterial infections. The construction strategy and application principle of this multifunctional antibacterial dressing provide a novel perspective for the development of intelligent antibacterial therapy.