Yolk–shell Au@carbon nanospheres with photothermal and electron-plunder sterilization for infected wound healing

Highly pathogenic-resistant bacteria infections seriously hinder the wound healing process and induce a catastrophic threat to human health. Incorporating multiple antibacterial strategies into nanostructured materials has been verified to possess paramount promise for ameliorating therapeutic efficiency against resistant bacteria. Herein, a multifunctional yolk–shell nanocomposite (Au@HCN) comprised of an aurum (Au) core and hollow carbon nanosphere (HCN) shell was prepared via one-step copolymerization and carbonization. The electron plunder by Au@HCN on the bacterial membrane leads to bacterial membrane depolarization and enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism, resulting in remarkable efficacy against drug-resistant bacteria under dark conditions. Moreover, the synergetic photothermal therapy (PTT) displayed significant antibacterial properties (∼98%) when exposed to near-infrared (NIR) irradiation in vitro. Meanwhile, efficient eradication of drug-resistant bacteria in the infected wound in vivo was observed under NIR exposure, thereby promoting wound healing through the prominent antibacterial properties of Au@HCN. The yolk–shell Au@HCN possesses tremendous potential for combating multidrug resistance with high efficiency.