Garlic-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (GELNs) could function in interspecies communication and may serve as natural therapeutics to regulate the inflammatory response or as nanocarriers to efficiently deliver specific drugs. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is able to hide within host cells to evade immune clearance and antibiotics, leading to life-threatening infections. On-site detection and efficient treatment of intracellular S. aureus infection in wounds remain challenging. Herein, we report a thermosensitive, injectable, visible GELNs-based wound dressing, Van@GELNs/F127 hydrogel (gel Van@GELNs), which is H2O2-responsive and can slowly release vancomycin into host cells forS. aureus infection visualization and treatment in wounds. GELNs show inherent antibacterial activity, which is significantly enhanced after loading vancomycin. Both GELNs and Van@GELNs have the ability to be internalized by cells, so Van@GELNs are more effective than free vancomycin in killing S. aureus in RAW 264.7 macrophages. When applied to an S. aureus-infected wound on a mouse, the colorless HRP&ABTS/Van@GELNs/F127 solution immediately changes to a green hydrogel and shows better therapeutic effect than vancomycin. Thus, direct visualization by the naked eye and effective treatment of S. aureus infection in wounds are achieved by gel Van@GELNs. We anticipate gel Van@GELNs be applied for the theranostics of S. aureus infection diseases in the clinic in the near future.
Keywords: H2O2-responsive; Staphylococcus aureus infection; antimicrobials; garlic-derived exosome-like nanovesicles; thermosensitive hydrogel.