Bimetallic CuCo2S4 Nanozymes with Enhanced Peroxidase Activity at Neutral pH for Combating Burn Infections

Abstract

Peroxidase-mimicking nanozymes that can generate toxic hydroxyl radicals ((OH)-O-.) hold great promise as antibacterial alternatives. However, most of them display optimal performance under strongly acidic conditions (pH 3-4), and are thus not feasible for many medical uses, including burn infections with a wound pH close to neutral. Herein, we report a copper-based nanozyme (CuCo2S4) that exhibits intrinsic peroxidase-like activity and can convert H(2)O(2)into(.)OH at neutral pH. In particular, bimetallic CuCo(2)S(4)nanoparticles (NPs) exhibited enhanced peroxidase-like activity and antibacterial capacity, superior to that of the corresponding monometallic CuS and CoS NPs. The CuCo(2)S(4)nanozymes possessed excellent ability to kill various bacteria, including methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA). Furthermore, this CuCo(2)S(4)nanozymes could effectively disrupt MRSA biofilms in vitro and accelerate MRSA-infected burn healing in vivo. This work provides a new peroxidase mimic to combat bacteria in neutral pH milieu and this CuCo(2)S(4)nanozyme could be a promising antibacterial agent for the treatment of burn infections.