Photodynamic and Photothermal Effects of MXene Ti3C2Tx Under 460/808 nm Light Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

The emergence and widespread development of drug-resistant bacteria pose significant challenges to global public health. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most typical multidrug-resistant bacteria, capable of causing life-threatening diseases and exhibiting insensitivity to multiple antibiotics. Therefore, the development of antibiotic-independent antimicrobial approaches is critically important. MXene Ti₃C₂T_x, a promising two-dimensional nanomaterial, possesses both photothermal and photodynamic effects. In this study, we investigated the photodynamic and photothermal mechanism of MXene Ti₃C₂T_x against MRSA under irradiation with two different light sources: 460 nm short-wavelength blue light and 808 nm near-infrared light. Here, we prepared a stable MXene Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheet dispersion system and confirmed its effective antimicrobial activity against MRSA. Furthermore, we observed differences in the photothermal and photodynamic effects of MXene Ti₃C₂T_x under different light sources. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the photoreactive properties of MXene Ti₃C₂T_x and guide clinical strategies for treating MRSA infections.