Dye-sensitized rare-earth-doped nanoprobe for simultaneously enhanced NIR-II imaging and precise treatment of bacterial infection

Yingxin Zhu; Xianzhu Luo; Zihang Yu; Shihui Wen; Guochen Bao; Le Zhang; Cuiling Zhang; Yuezhong Xian

doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2023.08.051

Dye-sensitized rare-earth-doped nanoprobe for simultaneously enhanced NIR-II imaging and precise treatment of bacterial infection

Acta Biomater. 2023 Oct 15:170:532-542. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.08.051. Epub 2023 Sep 3.

Authors

Yingxin Zhu¹, Xianzhu Luo¹, Zihang Yu¹, Shihui Wen², Guochen Bao², Le Zhang², Cuiling Zhang¹, Yuezhong Xian¹

Affiliations

¹ The Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Department of Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
² Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia.

PMID: 37669712
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.08.051

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is responsible for causing life-threatening infections that result in high morbidity and mortality rates. The development of advanced imaging and therapeutic methods for in vivo diagnosis and treatment of MRSA infections remains challenging. Here, we develop a hybrid nanoplatform based on rare-earth-doped nanoparticles (RENPs) sensitized by a moiety-engineered near-infrared (NIR) TPEO-820 dye and with a ZIF-8 layer that incorporates CysNO, a photochemically triggered nitric oxide donor. We then use the hybrid for both NIR-II bioimaging and photoactivatable treatment of MRSA-infected wounds. We show that the NIR dye sensitization leads to an 8.5-fold enhancement of the downshifting emission and facilitates deep-tissue NIR-II imaging of bacterial infections. Moreover, the sensitization strategy enhances the UV emission of RENPs by two orders of magnitude, leading to the efficiently controllable release of nitric oxide for effective disinfection of MRSA in vitro and in vivo. The hybrid nanoplatform thus offers promising opportunities for simultaneous localization and controllable treatment of MRSA. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Early detection and treatment of MRSA infections are crucial for reducing public health risks. It is a significant challenge that develops sensitive in vivo diagnosis and complete elimination of drug-resistant bacterial infections. Herein, a nanoplatform has been developed for photoactivatable therapy of MRSA infections and deep tissue NIR-II imaging. This platform utilizes lanthanide-doped rare earth nanoparticles (RENPs) that are sensitized by a moiety-engineered near-infrared (NIR) dye TPEO-820. The TPEO-820 sensitized RENPs exhibit 5 times increase in the release of NO concentration for MRSA treatment compared to unsensitized RENPs, enabling precise therapy of MRSA infection both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the platform demonstrates NIR-II luminescence in vivo, allowing for sensitive imaging in deep tissue for MRSA infection.

Keywords: Dye sensitization; NIR-II imaging; NO bacterial therapy; Rare earth nanoparticles.