LAUSR

Black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets emerged as promising two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial that has been gradually applied to eradicate antibiotic-resistant bacteria by their excellent photothermal performance and biocompatibility. However, their applications are limited by intrinsic ambient instability. Here, the ε-Poly-L-lysine (ε-PL)-engineered BP nanosheets are constructed via simple electrostatic interaction to cater the demand for passivating BP with improved antibacterial activity. The BP@ε-PL integrates the treatment of antimicrobial peptides and photothermal therapy (PTT) for synergistically amplified antibacterial effect. The dual drug-delivery complex can closely anchor onto the surface of bacteria, leading to membrane disintegration. Subsequently, in situ hyperthermia generated by BP under NIR irradiation can precisely eradicate pathogenic bacteria. In vitro antibacterial studies verify the rapid disinfection ability of BP@ε-PL against MRSA with completely eradication within 15 min. Moreover, ε-PL can serve as an effective protector to avoid chemical degradation of bare BP. The in vivo antibacterial study shows that a 99.4% antibacterial rate in a MRSA skin infection model is achieved, which is accompanied by negligible toxicity. In conclusion, this work not merely provides a new conjecture for modifying and protecting the BP, but also opens a novel window for precisely synergistic antibiotic-resistant bacteria therapy based on antimicrobial peptides and 2D photothermal nanomaterial. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.