An Efficient and Benign Antimicrobial Depot Based on Silver-Infused MoS2

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been used as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, whose toxicity originates from the localized release of Ag⁺ ions. However, the residual AgNPs core could generate potential risk to humans and waste of noble metals. Herein, we infused the cysteine-modified molybdenum disulfide with minimum Ag⁺ ions and coated with a layer of cationic polyelectrolyte to construct an efficient and benign antimicrobial depot. The system exhibited much enhanced broad-spectrum antibacterial activity compared with an equivalent amount of silver nitrate, owing to its increasing accessibility of released Ag⁺ to the cell walls of microorganisms. More importantly, the antibacterial system could be successfully applied to treat wound infection, while retaining high antibacterial activities, exhibiting negligible biotoxicity and avoiding the waste of Ag.