One-Step Facile Synthesis of a Cationic Photosensitizer with Electrostatic Anchoring of Bacteria for Photodynamic Therapy of MRSA-Infected Wounds

Bacterial infection refers to a series of pathological processes caused by bacteria invading the host’s body, growing and reproducing, and interacting with the organism. However, antibiotics currently used for the treatment of bacterial infections require multiple administrations. Prolonged use or abuse can lead to bacterial resistance, resulting in treatment failure and, in severe cases, the emergence of “superbugs”. Based on this, we have developed a cationic photosensitizer ( Pyro-TPP ), which can precisely target bacteria with negatively charged surfaces. Meanwhile, experiments have demonstrated that Pyro-TPP hardly induces bacterial resistance. It generates reactive oxygen species under light excitation, exhibiting a “one-hit” antibacterial effect. In vivo studies on bacterial-infected wounds in mice have shown that this strategy can achieve efficient antibacterial activity and promote wound healing with no significant inflammatory side effects, thus providing an effective strategy for the clinical treatment of bacterial-infected wounds.