Specific detection and effective inhibition of a single bacterial species in situ using peptide mineralized Au cluster probes

Increasingly serious microbial infections call for the development of new simpler methods for the precise diagnosis and specific inhibition of such pathogens. In this work, a peptide mineralized Au cluster probe was applied as a new simplified strategy to both recognize and inhibit a single bacteria species of Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) simultaneously. The probes are composed of peptides and Au clusters. Moreover, the peptides specifically target S. aureus cells and the Au clusters provide fluorescent imaging and have an antibacterial effect. These new probes enable the simultaneous specific detection and effective destruction S. aureus cells in situ.

Self-adaptive hydrogel for breast cancer therapy via accurate tumor elimination and on-demand adipose tissue regeneration

The irregular defects and residual tumor tissue after surgery are challenges for effective breast cancer treatment.Herein,a smart hydrogel with self-adaptable size and dual responsive cargos release was fabricated to treat breast cancer via accurate tumor elimination,on-demand adipose tissue regeneration and effective infection inhibition.The hydrogel consisted of thiol groups ended polyethylene glycol(SH-PEG-SH)and doxorubicin encapsulated mesoporous silica nanocarriers(DOX@MSNs)double crosslinked hyaluronic acid(HA)after loading of antibacterial peptides(AP)and adipose-derived stem cells(ADSCs).A pH-cleavable unsaturated amide bond was pre-introduced between MSNs and HA frame to perform the tumor-specific acidic environment dependent DOX@MSNs release,meanwhile an esterase degradable glyceryl dimethacrylate cap was grafted on MSNs,which contributed to the selective chemotherapy in tumor cells with over-expressed esterase.The bond cleavage between MSNs and HA would also cause the swelling of the hydrogel,which not only provide sufficient space for the growth of ADSCs,but allows the hydrogel to fully fill the irregular defects generated by surgery and residual tumor atrophy,resulting in the on-demand regeneration of adipose tissue.Moreover,the sustained release of AP could be simultaneously triggered along with the size change of hydrogel,which further avoided bacterial infection to promote tissue regeneration.