Nanozyme-Based Supramolecular Self-Assembly As an Artificial Host Defense System For Treatment of Bacterial Infections

Abstract

The proper functioning of host defense system (HDS) is the key to combating bacterial infection in biological organisms. However, the delicate HDS may be dysfunctional or dysregulated, resulting in persistent infection, tissue damage, or delayed wound healing. Herein, a powerful artificial “host defense system” (aHDS) is designed and constructed for treatment of bacterial infections. First, the aHDS can quickly trap the bacteria by electrostatic interactions. Next, the system can be stimulated to produce large amounts of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and exert strong antibacterial effects, which can further regulate the immune microenvironment, leading to macrophage polarization from M0 to pro-inflammatory phenotype (M1) for synergistic bacteria killing. At the later stages, the system can exhibit excellent antioxidant enzyme-like activities to reprogram the M1 macrophage to anti-inflammatory phenotype (M2) for accelerating wound healing. This powerful aHDS can effectively combat the bacteria and avoid excessive inflammatory responses for the treatment of bacteria-infected wounds.