Integrated nanotechnology of synergism-sterilization and removing-residues for neomycin through nano-Cu2O

The abuse of antibiotics has led to widespread antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and environmental pollution. In order to solve these problems, a lot of studies have been carried out mainly focusing on the modification and recombination of organic reagents, but bacteria are still easy to adapt to it, so they cannot be thoroughly solved. Here, we present an integrated pollution-free synergistic antibacterial nanotechnology using inorganic nano-Cu2O, which could not only enhance the efficacy of aminoglycoside antibiotics, but also eliminate their environmental pollution by photocatalytic degradation. It was found that Cu2O showed significantly synergistic antibacterial effect (1+1>2) when combined with aminoglycoside antibiotics against Escherichia coli. The inhibition zone area increased by 59.0% when Cu2O combined with neomycin. This reduces dosage and the risk of AMR, and does not pollute the environment after degradation. Next, to explore the synergistic mechanisms, we have studied the interaction of antibiotics with nanoparticles, as well as the interaction of antibacterial agents with bacteria. At last, we believe that the destruction of cell walls by Cu2O facilitates the entry of antibiotics into cells is the reason for their synergy.