journal article·2026-07-13Open access

Dual‐Functional Silent‐Region SERS Nanoplatform for Real‐Time Bacterial Tracking and Wound Healing Therapy

Hanbin Deng, Rui Wang, Dianqi Zhang, Wei Zhang, Jaebum Choo, Fabiao Yu, Shaowen Cheng

Abstract

ABSTRACT Bacterial wound infections, particularly those caused by Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , are difficult to treat due to biofilm formation, multidrug resistance, and chronic inflammation. Here, we report a multifunctional nanoplatform based on a surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probe that enables simultaneous photodynamic therapy, antibiotic delivery, and real‐time infection monitoring. The probe comprises gold nanoparticles coated with Prussian blue, which acts both as a near‐infrared photosensitizer and a Raman reporter in the spectroscopically silent region, further loaded with colistin sulfate and stabilized with bovine serum albumin. Upon irradiation with a 650 nm laser, the probe produces reactive oxygen species, and, in combination with antibiotic release, achieves enhanced eradication of Gram‐negative bacteria (>90% reduction) using a significantly reduced antibiotic dose. The SERS signal in the silent region enables background‐free, in situ discrimination and quantification of bacterial load during treatment. In both normal and diabetic mouse wound models, the probe accelerates bacterial clearance, facilitates M2 macrophage polarization, and promotes angiogenesis and collagen deposition, thereby resulting in improved wound healing. Analysis of 36 clinical wound samples demonstrates sensitive and specific Gram‐positive and negative bacterial identification. This approach establishes a clinically translatable strategy for precise infection management, real‐time monitoring, and enhanced wound repair.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Wound Healing and Treatments · Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics · Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Engineering Research Center for Hainan Bio‐Smart Materials and Bio‐Medical Devices, Key Laboratory of Hainan Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, School of Life Sciences and Medical Technology, Department of Wound Repair, The First Affiliated Hospital Hainan Medical University Haikou Hainan China

Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Haikou Trauma, Key Laboratory of Hainan Trauma and Disaster Rescue Hainan Medical University Haikou China

Department of Chemistry Chung‐Ang University Seoul South Korea

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · National Research Foundation of Korea

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