Biomimetic Metal–Organic Framework Composite-Mediated Cascade Catalysis for Synergistic Bacteria Killing

Encapsulating nanoparticles/biomolecules into metal–organic freamworks (MOFs) has proven to be highly effective in creating new functions during their applications. However, it is highly desirable yet remains challenging to achieve the synergy of specific functions between the MOF host and guest species. Herein, inspired by the natural multienzyme system, a novel MOF composite biomimetic structure based on the coencapsulation of glucose oxidase (GOx) and l-arginine (l-Arg) into Cu-MOFs (CuBDC) with Fenton-like catalytic activity is designed for achieving the synergistic antibacterial effect. Once activated by GOx-catalyzed glucose oxidation, a large amount of oxygen radicals, toxic ONOO–, and NO are rapidly produced over this well-designed l-Arg/GOx@CuBDC through a double-cascade reaction. Thanks to the synergy of highly reactive species, outstanding antibacterial effects (bacterial inactivation ≥97%) are observed at very low doses (38 μg mL–1 for Escherichia coli and 3.8 μg mL–1 for Staphylococcus aureus). In addition, the in vivo experiment in mice demonstrated that the as-prepared l-Arg/GOx@CuBDC has good biocompatibility, indicating its good potential in practical applications. Such a biomimetic multienzyme system proposes a new design idea for highly efficient antibiosis as well as even therapy for tumors.