Volume 132, Issue 7 pp. 2742-2746
Zuschrift

Biomimetic Networks with Enhanced Photodynamic Antimicrobial Activity from Conjugated Polythiophene/Polyisocyanide Hybrid Hydrogels

Dr. Hongbo Yuan

Dr. Hongbo Yuan

Institute of Biophysics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401 P. R. China

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Prof. Dr. Yong Zhan

Prof. Dr. Yong Zhan

Institute of Biophysics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401 P. R. China

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Prof. Dr. Alan E. Rowan

Prof. Dr. Alan E. Rowan

Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072 Australia

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Prof. Dr. Chengfen Xing

Corresponding Author

Prof. Dr. Chengfen Xing

Institute of Biophysics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401 P. R. China

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Prof. Dr. Paul H. J. Kouwer

Prof. Dr. Paul H. J. Kouwer

Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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First published: 09 January 2020
Citations: 4

Abstract

Hybrid biomimetic hydrogels with enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generation efficiency under 600 nm light show high antibacterial activity. The hybrid gels are composed of helical tri(ethylene glycol)-functionalized polyisocyanides (PICs) and a conformation-sensitive conjugated polythiophene, poly(3-(3′-N,N,N-triethylammonium-1′-propyloxy)-4-methyl-2,5-thiophene chloride) (PMNT). The PIC polymer serves as a scaffold to trap and align the PMNT backbone into a highly ordered conformation, resulting in redshifted, new sharp bands in the absorption and fluorescence spectra. Similar to PIC, the hybrid closely mimics the mechanical properties of biological gels, such as collagen and fibrin, including the strain stiffening properties at low stresses. Moreover, the PMNT/PIC hybrids show much higher ROS production efficiency under red light than PMNT only, leading to an efficient photodynamic antimicrobial effect towards various pathogenic bacteria.

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