A NIR-II emissive polymer AIEgen for imaging-guided photothermal elimination of bacterial infection

The development of antibiotics resistance has made multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infection one of the most serious global health issues. Photothermal therapy (PTT) is an emerging therapeutic mode which can be applied to bacterial infection without inducing resistance. Moreover, enhanced therapeutic efficacy and less tissue damage can be realized with NIR-II fluorescence imaging (FLI) guided PTT. Herein, a polymeric luminogen with aggregation-induced emission (AIEgens) characteristics, poly(dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole-benzo[1,2-c:4,5-c']bis([1,2,5]thiadiazole)) (PDTPTBT), was synthesized and used as a photothermal agent for PTT of bacterial infections. PDTPTBT was encapsulated into liposomes (L-PDTPTBT) for improved water dispersibility. Upon 808 nm NIR irradiation, L-PDTPTBT can eliminate multiple bacteria including the Gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, the Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Serious damage of bacterial membrane and leakage of cytoplasm is observed after photothermal treatment using L-PDTPTBT. The potential of the formulation has been demonstrated in two infected animal models: (i) a subcutaneous abscess model and (ii) a diabetic skin infection model. In the diabetic skin infection model, the death of mice is largely suppressed and the wounds can heal more quickly with treatment of L-PDTPTBT under NIR irradiation. The excellent photothermal bactericidal ability and low cytotoxicity make L-PDTPTBT potential candidate for treating MDR bacterial infections in the future.