V <sub>o</sub>-AgFeO <sub>2− <i>x</i> </sub> nanozymes treat infected wounds and promote wound healing
Hongrang Chen, Wenqi Wang, Yajuan Li, Lei Shu, Ni Fan, Henny C. van der Mei, Konglin Wu, Tang Yan, Lei Shi, Xianwen Wang
Abstract
Effectively controlling bacterial infections and reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions are important steps in wound healing. However, owing to the improper use of antibiotics and inadequate control of infections in recent years, the emergence of many broad-spectrum drug-resistant strains has exacerbated the threat of infected wounds to human health. Recent studies have shown that bimetallic nanozymes may become an effective means of treating drug-resistant bacterial infections because of their unique physical properties and excellent antibacterial properties. In this study, silver iron bimetallic nanozymes with multiple enzyme activities (peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase) were successfully synthesized for the treatment of skin wounds. Notably, the prepared V<sub>o</sub>-AgFeO<sub>2–<i>x</i></sub> exhibited different enzyme activities under different pH conditions. In acidic environments, V<sub>o</sub>-AgFeO<sub>2–<i>x</i></sub> can catalyze H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), deplete glutathione (GSH), and kill bacteria. In a neutral environment, V<sub>o</sub>-AgFeO<sub>2−<i>x</i></sub> can eliminate free radicals, control inflammatory reactions, and accelerate wound healing. <i>In vivo</i> experiments have shown that V<sub>o</sub>-AgFeO<sub>2−<i>x</i></sub> can promote the healing of infected wounds and has good biological safety. These findings suggest that it can be used as a safe and efficient antibacterial drug to achieve effective treatment of bacterial infection-induced wounds.