Self-Degradable Photoactive Micromotors for Inactivation of Resistant Bacteria

Abstract

Pathogenic bacteria pose a significant threat to human health, and their removal from food and water supplies is crucial in preventing the spread of waterborne and foodborne diseases. Recently, silver-based photocatalytic micromotors have emerged as promising candidates for inactivating pathogenic microbes due to their high antibacterial activity. In this study, the synthesis of photoactive Ag3PO4 micromotors with a well-defined tetrapod-like structure (TAMs) is presented using a simple precipitation method. These TAMs autonomously move and release Ag ions/nanoparticles (NPs) through a photodegradation process when exposed to light, which enhances their antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacterial strains. Interestingly, different motion modes are observed under different manipulated light wavelengths and fuels. Furthermore, the self-degradation of TAMs is accelerated in the presence of negatively charged bacteria, which results in higher removal rates of both bacteria, E. Coli and S. aureus. The findings introduce a new concept of self-degradable micromotors based on photocatalytic components, which hold great potential for their use in antimicrobial applications. This work offers significant implications for materials chemistry, especially in designing and developing the next generation of light-driven antimicrobial agents.