A Photothermally Enhanced Vancomycin-Coated Liquid Metal Antimicrobial Agent with Targeting Capability

Abstract

The targeted antimicrobial efficacy of Vancomycin decreases significantly over time due to bacterial resistance, whereas Ga-based liquid metals, which are less prone to inducing bacterial resistance, face challenges in achieving targeted antimicrobial effects. To tackle these issues, a highly efficient antimicrobial agent with targeting properties has been developed by combining Ga-based liquid metals and Vancomycin. Moreover, the performance of this antimicrobial agent can be greatly enhanced through the use of near-infrared light. Microscopic observations reveal that Vancomycin can be effectively encapsulated on the surface of liquid metal, facilitated by the presence of the oxide layer. The resulting core–shell structured antimicrobial agent demonstrates notable targeted antimicrobial effects against S. aureus. Antibacterial tests indicate that Vancomycin effectively improves the antibacterial properties of pure liquid metal. Additionally, this study unveils the excellent photothermal conversion capabilities of liquid metal, enabling the antimicrobial agent exposed to 808nm near-infrared light to exhibit significantly strengthened bactericidal performance. In this scenario, the antimicrobial agent can achieve nearly 100% effectiveness. This work enriches the investigation of integrating Ga-based antimicrobial agents with traditional antibiotics, showcasing promising antibacterial effects and establishing the groundwork for subsequent clinical applications.