Study on the Application of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 Loaded With Artemisia Argyi Essential Oil in the Treatment of Bacterial Infected Wounds

Wound bacterial infection deteriorates with antibiotic misuse, boosting bacterial drug resistance, threatening human health. Therefore, combining natural antibacterials with efficient broad-spectrum materials offers new solutions. Artemisia argyi is a kind of medicinal plant distributed in Asia, known for its rich biological active compounds. With the advancement of modern analytical technology, Artemisia argyi has shown excellent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory potential, particularly Artemisia argyi essential oil (AAEO) which is considered to be the most active substance in Artemisia argyi. However, its practical application is limited due to its poor water solubility, strong volatility, high sensitivity to light and heat, and its irritating odor. Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) is a type of metal–organic framework material (MOF) with good biocompatibility, simple synthesis, high porosity, and antimicrobial activity. ZIF-8 can be used as an ideal vehicle for the preparation of antibacterial materials. In this study, we loaded AAEO onto ZIF-8 to successfully develop AAEO@ZIF-8 antibacterial nanomaterial. The bactericidal ability and antibacterial mechanism of AAEO@ZIF-8 were evaluated through in vitro experiments such as bacterial coating, Live/Dead staining, and crystal violet staining. It was confirmed that AAEO@ZIF-8 had significant antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In in vivo experiments, the wound model using C57BL/6 male mice was established, and wound tissue staining with Gram, CD31⁺ immunohistochemistry, H&E, and Masson staining was performed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of AAEO@ZIF-8. The results showed that AAEO@ZIF-8 exhibited the best wound repair performance in the model. These findings suggested that AAEO@ZIF-8 is a novel and effective antimicrobial nanomaterial targeting pathogenic bacteria. This study successfully transformed the storage mode of AAEO from liquid to solid, providing a promising strategy for the application of AAEO in the treatment of wound bacterial infections.