Rational synthesis of Three-Layered plasmonic nanocomposites of copper Sulfide/Gold/Zinc-Doped Prussian blue analogues for improved photothermal disinfection and wound healing

Bacteria-infected wounds have imposed serious challenges in human health whereas the abuse of antibiotics makes bacteria drug-resistant and becoming more and more difficult to deal with. Herein, we developed a drug-free three-layered photothermal bactericide from inside to outside consisting of copper sulfide (CuS), gold (Au) and zinc-doped Prussian blue analogues (ZnPBA) (named as CuS@Au@ZnPBA). The CuS@Au@ZnPBA was demonstrated to possess remarkably-improved photothermal property and excellent biosafety. Local heat generated by CuS@Au@ZnPBA under the irradiation of 808 nm laser enables efficient bacteria ablation in vitro and in a mouse model of cutaneous wound infection. Meanwhile, the released zinc ions (Zn 2+ ) could upregulate the genes involved in collagen deposition to accelerate wound healing. Overall, the finely-designed nanocomposites can serve as a promising kind of antibacterial alternative to current antibiotic therapies against bacterial wound infections.