NIR-activated antimicrobial peptide-functionalized nanoparticles for eradication of biofilms and healing of infected diabetic wounds

Yueping Bai; Linxuan Shi; Lu Liu; Cui Li; Yiping Ma; Shuo Wang

doi:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2026.115993

NIR-activated antimicrobial peptide-functionalized nanoparticles for eradication of biofilms and healing of infected diabetic wounds

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2026 Jul 16;268(Pt 1):115993. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2026.115993. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yueping Bai¹, Linxuan Shi¹, Lu Liu², Cui Li², Yiping Ma², Shuo Wang³

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Medicinal ChemicalBiology, College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research andKLMDASR of Tianjin, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Eye Hospital, NankaiUniversity Optometry and Vision Science Institute, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
² Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300020, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Medicinal ChemicalBiology, College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research andKLMDASR of Tianjin, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Eye Hospital, NankaiUniversity Optometry and Vision Science Institute, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300020, China. Electronic address: shuowang7777@163.com.

PMID: 42475973
DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2026.115993

Abstract

The formation of bacterial biofilms at infection sites represents a major obstacle to the effective healing of diabetic wounds. Biofilm-associated diabetic wounds are exceedingly difficult to manage, compounded by the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains and the limited pipeline of novel antibacterial agents. To address this challenge, we designed polydopamine-HHC36-indocyanine green nanoparticles (PHI NPs) as an alternative therapeutic platform to conventional antibiotics. PHI NPs were fabricated by encapsulating the phototherapeutic agent indocyanine green (ICG) within a polydopamine (PDA) matrix, followed by surface functionalization with the cationic antimicrobial peptide HHC36 for autonomous and selective pathogen targeting. In vitro, PHI NPs bound Staphylococcus aureus with high affinity. Following intravenous administration in vivo, PHI NPs effectively accumulated at infected sites in a murine diabetic wound model. Upon near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation, PHI NPs disrupted the biofilm architecture and subsequently eradicated the exposed bacteria through synergy between phototherapy (combining photothermal and photodynamic effects) and the antimicrobial peptide. Notably, bactericidal efficacy was robust under mild photothermal conditions (<45 °C), ensuring a favorable safety profile. In conclusion, PHI NPs constitute a potent and biocompatible platform for eradicating biofilm-associated infections and promoting wound healing of diabetic wounds whilst avoiding induction of antibiotic resistance.

Keywords: Anti-biofilm; Antimicrobial peptide; Charge targeting; Photothermal therapy.