Synergistically enhanced photothermal transition of a polyoxometalate/peptide assembly improved the antibiofilm and antibacterial activities

Soft Matter. 2022 Apr 13;18(15):2951-2958. doi: 10.1039/d2sm00092j.

Abstract

We successfully developed an antimicrobial assembly (Mo154/TK-14) using molybdenum-polyoxometalate and a positively charged peptide of TK-14. It was characterized and assayed using zeta-potential, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and TEM measurements. The Mo154/TK-14 assembly showed an enhanced 808 nm absorption and, therefore, improved the photothermal conversion efficiency of Mo154 (30.3%) to 38.6%. Consequently, in comparison to 5 μM Mo154 without irradiation, both the biofilm formation and bacterial viability of S. aureus were 24.6% and 20.2%, respectively, for the Mo154/TK-14 assembly; the biofilm formation and bacterial viability were further decreased to 7.7% and 4.4% under 808 nm irradiation, respectively. Therefore, the Mo154/TK-14 assembly reflects convincing antibacterial properties compared to Mo154. This is due to the synergistic effect between the peptide-binding enhanced 808 nm absorption and the improved PTT properties. The antimicrobial assembly offers a novel strategy for the rational design of light-responsive antibacterial materials.

MeSH terms

  • Anions
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Infective Agents*
  • Biofilms
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Polyelectrolytes
  • Staphylococcus aureus*

Substances

  • Anions
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Peptides
  • Polyelectrolytes
  • polyoxometalate