A Smart Nanoplatform with Photothermal Antibacterial Capability and Antioxidant Activity for Chronic Wound Healing

Chronic wounds, such as the diabetic ulcer wounds have serious effect on people's lives, and can even lead to death. Diabetic ulcer wounds are different from normal wounds and much easier to be infected and induce oxidative stress due to the special surrounding microenvironment, which makes it necessary to prepare materials with antibacterial property and antioxidant activity simultaneously. The molybdenum disulfide-ceria (MoS₂ -CeO₂ ) nanocomposite possesses both the photo-thermal therapy (PTT) antibacterial capability of polyethylene glycol modified molybdenum disulfide nanosheets and the antioxidant activity of cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs). By combining the inherent antibacterial activity of CeO₂ NPs, the MoS₂ -CeO₂ nanocomposite exhibits excellent PTT antibacterial capability against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria through 808 nm laser treatment, thereby reducing the risk of wound infection. Owing to the abundant oxygen vacancies in CeO₂ NPs, Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ can transform reversibly which endows MoS₂ -CeO₂ nanocomposite with remarkable antioxidant ability to clear away the excessive reactive oxygen species around the diabetic ulcer wounds and promote wound healing. The results demonstrate that MoS₂ -CeO₂ nanocomposite is a promising class for the clinical treatment of chronic wounds especially the diabetic ulcer wounds, and 808 nm laser can be used as a PTT antibacterial switch.