Dipicolylamine‐Zn Induced Targeting and Photo‐Eliminating of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Drug‐Resistance Gram‐Positive Bacteria

Abstract

AbstractThe emergence of drug‐resistant bacteria, particularly resistant strains of Gram‐negative bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, poses a significant threat to public health. Although antibacterial photodynamic therapy (APDT) is a promising strategy for combating drug‐resistant bacteria, actively targeted photosensitizers (PSs) remain unknown. In this study, a PS based on dipicolylamine (DPA), known as WZK‐DPA‐Zn, is designed for the selective identification of P. aeruginosa and drug‐resistant Gram‐positive bacteria. WZK‐DPA‐Zn exploits the synergistic effects of DPA‐Zn2+ coordination and cellular uptake, which could effectively anchor P. aeruginosa within a brief period (10 min) without interference from other Gram‐negative bacteria. Simultaneously, the cationic nature of WZK‐DPA‐Zn enhances its interaction with Gram‐positive bacteria via electrostatic forces. Compared to traditional clinical antibiotics, WZK‐DPA‐Zn shows exceptional antibacterial activity without inducing drug resistance. This effectiveness is achieved using the APDT strategy when irradiated with white light or sunlight. The combination of WZK‐DPA‐Zn with Pluronic‐based thermosensitive hydrogel dressings (WZK‐DPA‐Zn@Gel) effectively eliminates mixed bacterial infections and accelerates wound healing, thereby achieving a synergistic effect where “1+1>2.” In summary, this study proposes a precise strategy employing DPA‐Zn as the targeting moiety of a PS, facilitating the rapid elimination of P. aeruginosa and drug‐resistant Gram‐positive bacteria using APDT.