One-for-All Photoactivatable Manganese-Based Carbon Monoxide-Releasing Molecules (CORMs) for Synergistic Therapy of Mycobacterial Infection

Tuberculosis presents a severe threat to human health. It is of crucial importance to develop novel and effective treatments to combat mycobacterial infections, especially those caused by drug-resistant bacteria. In this study, a tricarbonyl manganese(I) complex ( Mn-PTP ) was synthesized for the purpose of conducting synergistic therapy against mycobacterial infection. When subjected to white light irradiation, Mn-PTP generated multiple reactive species, including type I/II combined reactive oxygen species (ROS), carbon monoxide (CO), the toxic ligand PTP, and manganese oxides (MnO X ) with catalase-like ability. The antibacterial experiment demonstrated that irradiated Mn-PTP exhibited specific antibacterial effects on Mycobacterium smegmatis ( M. smegmatis ). It was found to cause damage to the bacterial membrane and effectively eradicate biofilms. Moreover, the in vivo experiment revealed that the photoactive Mn-PTP could promote the healing process of M. smegmatis -infected skin wounds. This study pioneers innovative frameworks for developing one-for-all small-molecule pharmaceuticals capable of enabling synergistic therapeutic strategies against mycobacterial infections.