Recent advances in pH-responsive nanomaterials for anti-infective therapy

Inspired by the slight acidic microenvironment, a variety of pH-responsive nanomaterials are designed for highly effective antibacterial therapy by improving the ability of drug penetration and retention to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of phototherapy or control surface adhesion. This review summarizes the common pH-responsive modes and highlights the recent and potential applications of pH-responsive nanomaterials in anti-infective therapy. Finally, the challenges and prospects of pH-responsive nanomaterials in clinical transformation are discussed.