Electron Compensation-Mediated Suppression of Silver Ion Release and Enhanced Electrodynamic Therapy for Efficient Eradication of Bacterial Infections

Abstract

Silver-based nanomaterials have emerged as potent antibacterial agents, particularly effective in combating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. However, the uncontrolled and continuous release of Ag ion (Ag⁺) significantly compromises their biocompatibility, thereby restricting their widespread clinical applications. A novel biomimetic nanoplatform, denoted as AgPt@RBCM, is designed which integrates AgPt nanoparticles with red blood cell membranes (RBCM) for the treatment of bacterial infections. The electron compensation interaction between Pt and Ag efficiently regulates Ag⁺ release, thereby minimizing off-target toxicity to healthy tissues in vivo. In addition, the RBCM coating not only prolongs the blood retention of AgPt@RBCM but also neutralizes bacterial toxins, resulting in enhanced accumulation at the infection sites. Upon electric field stimulation at the infection site, AgPt@RBCM functions as an electrosensitizer, producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) for enhanced electrodynamic therapy (EDT). The generated ROS not only directly induces bacterial membrane damage but also triggers the release of Ag⁺ on demand, amplifying oxidative stress that leads to effective bacterial eradication. The dual-modality combining ROS generation and toxin neutralization substantially boosts the antibacterial efficacy in vivo. This proof-of-concept study establishes AgPt@RBCM as a promising platform for targeted and controllable antibacterial treatment with reduced side effects, paving the way for potential clinical applications.