Oxygen‐Vacancy‐Rich Monolayer BiO2−X Nanosheets for Bacterial Sepsis Management via Dual Physically Antibacterial and Chemically Anti‐inflammatory Functions

Abstract

AbstractSepsis is defined as a life‐threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Effective treatment of bacterial sepsis remains challenging due to the rapid progression of infection and the systemic inflammatory response. In this study, monolayer BiO2−X nanosheets (BiO2−X NSs) with oxygen‐rich vacancies through sonication‐assisted liquid‐phase exfoliation are successfully synthesized. Herein, the BiO2−X NSs exhibit a novel nanozyme‐enabled intervention strategy for the management of bacterial sepsis, based on its pH dependent dual antibacterial and anti‐inflammatory functions. BiO2−X NSs exhibit effective antibacterial by utilizing oxidase (OXD)‐like activity. Additionally, BiO2−X NSs can scavenge multiple reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitigate systemic hyperinflammation by mimicking superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). These dual capabilities of BiO2−X NSs allow them to address bacterial infection, proinflammatory cytokines secretion and ROS burst collaboratively, effectively reversing the progression of bacterial sepsis. In vivo experiments have demonstrated that BiO2−X NSs significantly reduce bacterial burden, attenuate systemic hyperinflammation, and rapidly rescued organ damage. Importantly, no obvious adverse effects are observed at the administered dose of BiO2−X NSs. This study presents a novel defect engineering strategy for the rational design of high‐performance nanozymes and development of new nanomedicines for managing bacterial sepsis.