A Comparative Analysis of the Antibacterial Spectrum of Ultrasmall Manganese Ferrite Nanozymes with Varied Surface Modifications
Junhua Han, Yingxian Chen, Xin Xiang, Tingting Wang, Jianzhong Shen, Nan Zhang, Liang Chen, Xiaoli Liu, Xiaowei Ma
Abstract
Bacterial infectious diseases pose a significant global challenge. However, conventional antibacterial agents exhibit limited therapeutic effectiveness due to the emergence of drug resistance, necessitating the exploration of novel antibacterial strategies. Nanozymes have emerged as a highly promising alternative to antibiotics, owing to their particular catalytic activities against pathogens. Herein, we synthesized ultrasmall-sized MnFe 2 O 4 nanozymes with different charges (MnFe 2 O 4 –COOH, MnFe 2 O 4 –PEG, MnFe 2 O 4 –NH 2 ) and assessed their antibacterial capabilities. It was found that MnFe 2 O 4 nanozymes exhibited both antibacterial and antibiofilm properties attributed to their excellent peroxidase-like activities and small sizes, enabling them to penetrate biofilms and interact with bacteria. Moreover, MnFe 2 O 4 nanozymes effectively expedite wound healing within 12 days and facilitate tissue repair and regeneration while concurrently reducing inflammation. MnFe 2 O 4 –COOH displayed favorable antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, with 80% bacterial removal efficiency against MRSA by interacting with phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and cardiolipin (CL) of the membrane. By interacting with negatively charged bacteria surfaces, MnFe 2 O 4 –NH 2 demonstrated the most significant and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, with 95 and 85% removal efficiency against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and P. aeruginosa, respectively. MnFe 2 O 4 –PEG dissipated membrane potential and reduced ATP levels in MRSA and P. aeruginosa, showing relatively broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. To conclude, MnFe 2 O 4 nanozymes offer a promising therapeutic approach for treating wound infections.