Rutin-Loaded Carbon Dots for Management of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Lung Infection

Human and animal infections due to multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens are currently a global health threat. The design and development of antibacterial agents and alternative treatment strategies remain challenges in therapeutic and clinical applications. Herein, we loaded the flavone rutin onto carbon dots (R-CDs) using a one-step hydrothermal/self-assembly method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of R-CDs against a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain was 32 μg/mL. MRSA exposed to R-CDs in vitro displayed evidence of cell membrane destruction and increased permeability, leading to a bactericidal effect. Efficient antibacterial effects were further demonstrated in vivo using a mouse model of pulmonary infection with MRSA. The R-CDs were also biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the R-CDs have potential applications in the treatment of bacterial infections and are an alternative candidate to traditional antibiotic treatment. The present formulation is suitable for testing against MRSA infections in the lung.