{"title":"Fluorescent self-reporting theranostic platforms for tumour therapy: from cytotoxin release monitoring to therapeutic feedback evaluation.","authors":"Yuning Guan, Jilei Zhao, Shaobo Hou, Yingxin Sun, Yalun Yao, Zi Long, Jian-Liang Zhou, Chong Duan","doi":"10.1039/d6tb00272b","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6tb00272b","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Controlled drug release, which enables targeted drug delivery, enhances selectivity and safety, and holds broad application prospects in precision tumour therapy, is frequently limited by unpredictable cytotoxic release and variable therapeutic effects. To address this challenge, fluorescent self-reporting theranostic platforms (FSRTPs) have emerged as a promising approach, enabling real-time monitoring of drug release dynamics and therapeutic efficacy. This paper reviews fluorescence single-/dual-mode imaging-guided controlled-release therapeutics developed in recent years, highlighting their design rationales, imaging strategies, and biological applications. In addition, the characteristics of FSRTPs are critically compared across different therapeutic modalities from the dual perspectives of cytotoxin-release monitoring and therapeutic-feedback evaluation. A core focus is achieving high-resolution intracellular drug tracking and real-time biomarker sensing (<i>e.g.</i>, Caspase-3) to enable prompt assessment of tumour cell apoptosis. Finally, we identify key bottlenecks in imaging depth, drug quantification, and pharmacokinetics and propose next-generation design principles to facilitate the clinical translation of adaptive, personalized cancer therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":94089,"journal":{"name":"Journal of materials chemistry. B","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147825177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shivani Tripathi, Harshala Patil, V Vamsi Krishna Venuganti, Manab Chakravarty
{"title":"Easy access to 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-based symmetric deep red-AIEgens for concurrent staining of lipid droplets and lysosomes.","authors":"Shivani Tripathi, Harshala Patil, V Vamsi Krishna Venuganti, Manab Chakravarty","doi":"10.1039/d6tb00360e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6tb00360e","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Deep-red-emissive aggregation-induced emission-active luminogens (AIEgens) have emerged as powerful tools for advanced noninvasive cancer diagnosis, selective imaging, and therapeutic applications due to their deep tissue penetration, high contrast, high photostability, and excellent biocompatibility. Unlike traditional fluorophores that undergo aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), AIEgens become brightly emissive upon aggregation, enabling real-time visualization in complex biological environments. A major challenge in cellular imaging is the simultaneous and highly specific labeling of lipid droplets (LDs) and lysosomes, two organelles closely interconnected through lipophagic processes (degradation of LDs by lysosomes) and central to metabolic regulation. Existing small-molecule dyes often lack dual-targeting capability and typically diffuse throughout the cytoplasm before localizing to their intended targets. Herein, we provide easy access to three newly designed 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BTD)-based D-π-A-π-D symmetric luminogens, MBM, DBD, and TBT, engineered for staining LDs and lysosomes. Even autophagosomes, a dynamic and double-membrane-bound organelle, are also stained with these probes. They exhibit strong red emission (630-740 nm) in both solid-state and highly aqueous media, demonstrating robust AIE properties. Colocalization studies confirm their reliable targeting of both organelles, supported by favourable binding affinities and other cross-experiments. The overall balance of hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity of the photostable probes MBM, DBD, and TBT exhibited organelle specificity, photostability, efficient uptake, and tunable cytotoxicity. Thus, these red-emitting probes are recognized as promising candidates for multifunctional bioimaging and therapeutic applications. The high stability, low photobleaching, and large Stokes shifts make these dyes superior to commercially available conventional dyes like Nile Red.</p>","PeriodicalId":94089,"journal":{"name":"Journal of materials chemistry. B","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147825193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mengting Chen, Lu Han, Sai Li, Yuji Pu, Bin He, Qingqing Pan
{"title":"A baicalein nanoparticle-embedded mucoadhesive hydrogel for synergistic anti-inflammation therapy in ulcerative colitis.","authors":"Mengting Chen, Lu Han, Sai Li, Yuji Pu, Bin He, Qingqing Pan","doi":"10.1039/d6tb00467a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6tb00467a","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Natural bioactive compounds exhibit significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, offering a promising natural alternative or complement to current immunosuppressive therapies for ulcerative colitis (UC). However, achieving effective colon-targeted delivery of these compounds remains a significant challenge due to premature drug release and limited local retention. In this study, we present a nanoparticle-hydrogel composite system, BZH@HCE, designed to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of baicalein (BA) for UC treatment. Zein and oxidized hyaluronic acid-based nanoparticles (BZH) provide a high loading capacity for BA and prevent premature drug release in the upper gastrointestinal tract. BZH encapsulation within an epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-containing hydrogel matrix (HCE) further sustains BA release and amplifies its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through synergistic action with EGCG. The adhesive hydrogel matrix ensures prolonged colon retention for up to 24 hours in colitis mice. <i>In vivo</i> studies using a dextran sulfate sodium-induced murine colitis model demonstrate that BZH@HCE significantly alleviates intestinal inflammation, promotes epithelial barrier repair, and shows excellent biocompatibility, outperforming both free BA and BZH nanoparticles. These findings position BZH@HCE as a versatile and effective platform for UC therapy, highlighting its potential as a natural, bioactive compound-based treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":94089,"journal":{"name":"Journal of materials chemistry. B","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147792877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A tumor cell membrane-engineered MXene nanoplatform for chemo-photothermal immunotherapy of bladder cancer.","authors":"Zijing Peng, Zhengnan Huang, Zhuofan Nan, Yilin Yan, Huaxing Li, Zeyi Wang, Wei Yao, Xiaodong Zhu, Bing Shen, Xiangqian Cao","doi":"10.1039/d6tb00416d","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6tb00416d","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bladder cancer is a major clinical challenge due to high recurrence and the limited efficacy of conventional therapies, creating an urgent demand for localized and targeted strategies. In this study, we developed a tumor cell (MB49) membrane-coated Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub><i>x</i></sub> MXene nanoplatform loaded with doxorubicin (MXene@TCM-DOX) for synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy and immune activation. MXene@TCM-DOX displayed excellent photothermal performance, favorable biocompatibility, and enhanced tumor-targeting capability. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in bladder cancer cells, human tumor organoids, and subcutaneous and orthotopic mouse bladder cancer models. Biological analyses revealed that MXene@TCM-DOX significantly induced tumor cell apoptosis and inhibited tumor growth more effectively than monotherapy. Notably, the nanoplatform promoted CD8<sup>+</sup> T cell infiltration and activation with upregulated granzyme B and perforin expression, thereby enhancing antitumor immune responses. This study demonstrates that MXene@TCM-DOX integrates chemo-photothermal therapy and immune activation, providing a promising localized strategy for bladder cancer treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":94089,"journal":{"name":"Journal of materials chemistry. B","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147825089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Near-infrared reinforced alginate-tyramine-curcumin gels for alleviation of osteoarthritis in an ACLT murine model.","authors":"Yao-Tung Tsai, Yu-Wen Tseng, Yan-Ting Chen, Shen-Han Wu, Hui-Wen Chiu, Hieu Trung Nguyen, Chueh-Hung Wu, Andrew E-Y Chuang, Wen-Shiang Chen, Chih-Kuang Chen","doi":"10.1039/d5tb00975h","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5tb00975h","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Osteoarthritis (OA) poses a significant challenge because of its complex pathology, involving factors such as hypoxia, inflammation, angiogenesis, oxidative stress within cell, and fibroblast-driven instability of fibrocartilage. Traditional scaffold-based treatments often fail to provide the mechanical properties and bioactivity required for effective cartilage repair. To overcome these challenges, this work introduces an injectable hydrogel system composed of alginate-tyramine-curcumin (ALG-TYR-CUR), reinforced using near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. The approach utilizes NIR-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation to enhance the mechanical strength of hydrogel, eradicate potential angiogenesis, and establish a hypoxic nature favorable for chondrogenesis. The outcomes showed remarkable improvements in the ALG-TYR-CUR hydrogel's mechanical characteristics. <i>In vitro</i> studies revealed selective regulation and management of oxidative stress, promoting the activity of chondrocytes while suppressing aberrant proliferation of fibroblasts. In a rat model of OA created by anterior cruciate ligament transection, the ALG-TYR-CUR gel system demonstrated notably reduced inflammation, cartilage regeneration, normalization of angiogenesis, and restoration of joint functionality. This NIR-ALG-TYR-CUR system provides a non-invasive, multimodal approach to managing OA by targeting critical pathological mechanisms. These results underscore its promise as a versatile platform for cartilage repair and as a promising solution for the management of inflammation illnesses and regenerative medication.</p>","PeriodicalId":94089,"journal":{"name":"Journal of materials chemistry. B","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147825164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dongxiao Ren, Wenxi Zhu, Sai Yan, Shuang Wu, Xunda Feng, Ran Cao, Meifang Zhu
{"title":"An antibacterial gradient-pore artificial skin with high exudate-absorption and hemostatic properties.","authors":"Dongxiao Ren, Wenxi Zhu, Sai Yan, Shuang Wu, Xunda Feng, Ran Cao, Meifang Zhu","doi":"10.1039/d6tb00023a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6tb00023a","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wounds frequently produce excessive exudation and are highly susceptible to bacterial contamination, posing significant challenges for effective wound management. To address these issues, we prepared a gradient-pore artificial skin capable of high-capacity exudate absorption while providing robust antibacterial and hemostatic functions. Using natural polymer materials (gelatin, chitosan) as raw materials, with protocatechualdehyde, sodium hydroxide, and Ga<sup>3+</sup> as crosslinking agents, double crosslinked hydrogels were prepared. Then, a three-layer artificial skin with gradient porosity was fabricated by sequential assembly of the hydrogel layers followed by freeze-drying. The artificial skin has excellent degradability, strong antibacterial activity (97% inhibition rate), high liquid absorption (∼8000% swelling rate within 72 hours), and favorable moisturizing properties (80%). The artificial skin demonstrates superior hemostatic performance, achieving minimal blood loss and a rapid clotting time of 67.64 s. When applied to wounds, it can coordinate and regulate inflammation resolution, fibroblast proliferation, and extracellular matrix deposition in the wound. This multilayer design, inspired by natural skin architecture, enables functional tissue regeneration and offers a promising strategy for advanced wound dressings.</p>","PeriodicalId":94089,"journal":{"name":"Journal of materials chemistry. B","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147793096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A microglia membrane biomimetic platinum-based MOF-loaded quercetin nanodrug delivery system for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.","authors":"Ruixin Zhao, Mengrong Guo, Fengmei Yang, Yujiao Yan, Die Tian, Liran Deng, Qi Wang, Meng Xie","doi":"10.1039/d6tb00201c","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6tb00201c","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aberrant deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) is a central pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), triggering oxidative stress, metal ion dyshomeostasis, and excessive microglial activation in a self-perpetuating pathological cascade. To address these interconnected processes, a platinum-based metal-organic framework (Pt-MOF) with intrinsic antioxidant enzyme-mimetic activity was constructed and loaded with quercetin (Qu) to regulate microglial dysfunction. To enhance blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and inflammation-targeting capability, Pt-MOF/Qu was further camouflaged with microglial cell membranes (BV2), yielding Pt-MOF/Qu/BV2 nanoparticles. <i>In vitro</i> studies demonstrated that Pt-MOF/Qu/BV2 efficiently scavenged reactive oxygen species and effectively chelated Cu<sup>2+</sup> ions <i>via</i> surface functional groups, thereby inhibiting Aβ aggregation and promoting the disassembly of preformed Aβ aggregates. In addition, the Pt-MOF enabled efficient loading and controlled release of Qu, which significantly restored mitochondrial membrane potential and alleviated microglial over-activation. The BV2 membrane coating markedly improved the biocompatibility and BBB translocation efficiency of the nanoplatform. Furthermore, Pt-MOF/Qu/BV2 significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) <i>in vivo</i> and Aβ brain plaque accumulation in the head region, alleviated neurotoxicity and improved the behavioral phenotype in the <i>C. elegans</i> AD model. Overall, this biomimetic multifunctional MOF-based nanoplatform represents a promising multi-target therapeutic strategy for AD.</p>","PeriodicalId":94089,"journal":{"name":"Journal of materials chemistry. B","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147792925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Daisee K Lubrin, Colin I Elliott, Jean-Paul Desaulniers, Theresa Stotesbury
{"title":"Impact of 2'-fluoro nucleobase modifications on CD detection, sensitivity and specificity of short oligonucleotides bound to alginate hydrogels.","authors":"Daisee K Lubrin, Colin I Elliott, Jean-Paul Desaulniers, Theresa Stotesbury","doi":"10.1039/d5tb02880a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5tb02880a","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chemical modification of oligonucleotides has aided in the advancement of various therapeutic applications; however, their impact on biosensor performance remains understudied. As demand grows for rapid, sensitive, and portable detection technologies in healthcare, environmental, and forensic fields, leveraging the effects of chemical modifications with spectroscopic detection methods offers an opportunity to improve biosensor performance. Herein, we synthesize label-free oligonucleotide-bound alginate hydrogels as biosensors and use circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy to detect and confirm DNA and RNA hybridization without amplification or labelling. We particularly focus on the impact of 2'-fluoro modifications on biosensor sensitivity and specificity. Fluorine-modified DNA-based biosensors demonstrate more than a threefold increase in sensitivity compared to unmodified DNA. RNA-based biosensors displayed a similar trend, where 2'-fluoro nucleobase modifications significantly lowered the LOD. Biosensor specificity is evaluated by adding mixtures containing up to four non-complementary strands to the alginate-oligo hydrogels. Fluorine-modified biosensors consistently demonstrated greater specificity with more distinct shifts in CD spectra compared to unmodified DNA. Principal component analysis was applied to differentiated samples with and without a bound complement. Additionally, when thermal melt data was combined with CD spectral data it was possible with a random forest model to predict whether unknown samples demonstrated complement binding, with accuracies of 95% and 83% for 2'-F modified and unmodified oligos, respectively. Our findings highlight the enhancement in biosensor sensitivity and specificity conferred by 2'-fluoro modifications, demonstrating their potential for improved label-free, amplification-free detection of oligonucleotides in complex environmental and forensic samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":94089,"journal":{"name":"Journal of materials chemistry. B","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147793079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alena Kaltenbrunner, Andrea Martino, Michela Nigro, Andrea Carboni, Alessia Marconi, Nicolò Mercorelli, Manuele Di Sante, Chiara Di Donato, Annapaola Petrosino, Simona Corrà, Monica De Luise, Giuseppe Gasparre, Matteo Calvaresi, Alberto Danielli, Paolo Emidio Costantini, Matteo Di Giosia
{"title":"Conjugating M13 bacteriophage targeting folate receptor alpha with multiple photosensitizers: a flexible phototheranostic platform against ovarian cancer.","authors":"Alena Kaltenbrunner, Andrea Martino, Michela Nigro, Andrea Carboni, Alessia Marconi, Nicolò Mercorelli, Manuele Di Sante, Chiara Di Donato, Annapaola Petrosino, Simona Corrà, Monica De Luise, Giuseppe Gasparre, Matteo Calvaresi, Alberto Danielli, Paolo Emidio Costantini, Matteo Di Giosia","doi":"10.1039/d5tb02844b","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5tb02844b","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ovarian cancer remains one of the deadliest malignancies in women, largely due to late-stage diagnosis and limited efficacy of current chemotherapies. To address this challenge, we introduce an advanced phage-based phototheranostic platform that leverages genetic programmability and modular chemical functionalization for selective tumor eradication. We first generated a single-chain variable fragment derived from the anti-folate receptor α (FRα) antibody MORAb-003, then we engineered M13 bacteriophage displaying this targeting moiety, enabling high-affinity recognition of FRα-overexpressing ovarian cancer cells. Using orthogonal bioconjugation, we then conjugated multiple copies of two complementary photosensitizers, chlorin e6 (Ce6) and rose bengal (RB), onto the phage capsid, yielding a photoresponsive nanoconstruct with dual excitation/emission profiles. This multifunctional viral scaffold seamlessly integrates tumor targeting, fluorescence imaging, and light-activated cytotoxicity into a single biocompatible architecture. The resulting M13<sub>FRα</sub>-Ce6-RB conjugates exhibit potent photodynamic activity under both red and green light irradiation, highlighting the potential of refactored M13 phages as flexible nanocarriers for precision phototherapy. This work presents a customizable and translationally relevant nanoplatform for image-guided treatment of chemoresistant ovarian cancer and other FRα-positive malignancies.</p>","PeriodicalId":94089,"journal":{"name":"Journal of materials chemistry. B","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147793104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jooho Jung, Rika Hayashida, Minori Kawachi, Eri Yoshida, Osamu Nakagoe, Hideaki Sano, Shuji Tanabe, Kai Kamada
{"title":"Unraveling site-specific dopant behavior governing antibacterial activity in doped titanate nanosheets.","authors":"Jooho Jung, Rika Hayashida, Minori Kawachi, Eri Yoshida, Osamu Nakagoe, Hideaki Sano, Shuji Tanabe, Kai Kamada","doi":"10.1039/d6tb00183a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6tb00183a","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a critical global health threat, particularly for immuno-compromised patients, such as those undergoing treatment for hematological malignancies. To address the limitations of conventional antibiotics, two-dimensional (2D) inorganic nanomaterials have attracted increasing attention as alternative antimicrobial platforms owing to their tunable surface chemistry and mechanical rigidity. In this study, we investigated the antibacterial mechanisms of copper- or silver-doped titanate nanosheets (Cu-TNS and Ag-TNS), focusing on how the dopant species and their structural locations influence antibacterial activity. Fine titanate nanosheets with low aspect ratios were synthesized through a liquid-phase reaction, enabling the evaluation of the chemical contributions of trace metal dopants while minimizing nanosheet-induced mechanical killing effects, as reported previously. Comprehensive characterization, including Raman spectroscopy, DLS, and XPS, indicated that Cu<sup>+</sup> ions were substitutionally incorporated into the titanate lattice, generating oxygen vacancies and modulating the electronic structure, whereas Ag<sup>+</sup> ions are suggested to reside in the interlayer galleries as exchangeable cations. Antibacterial assays against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i> demonstrated that Cu-TNS exerted stable, contact-dependent antibacterial effects without ion diffusion, whereas Ag-TNS exhibited strong but transient activity driven by Ag<sup>+</sup> release, which was consistent with the inhibition-zone formation observed in disk diffusion tests. Overall, Ag-TNS is suited for short-term, high-intensity disinfection, whereas Cu-TNS provides stable, contact-dependent surface antibacterial properties ideal for solid-state applications, such as antimicrobial coatings. This study provides the first systematic elucidation of metal-dependent antibacterial mechanisms from a chemical perspective and highlights design principles for next-generation inorganic antimicrobial materials.</p>","PeriodicalId":94089,"journal":{"name":"Journal of materials chemistry. B","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147793219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}