Antimicrobial Peptide-Templated Silver Nanoclusters with Membrane Activity for Enhanced Bacterial Killing

作者：Fei, Xingshu; Ma, Xiaochuan^*; Fang, Ge; Chong, Yu; Tian, Xin; Ge, Cuicui^*

来源：Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2020, 20(3): 1425-1433.

DOI：10.1166/jnn.2020.17161

• Antimicrobial Agent
• Nanomaterial
• Peptides
• Biocompatibility
• Membrane-Active

We aimed to develop antimicrobial agents that satisfy biosafety considerations while exhibiting efficient antimicrobial activity. Peptide-capped silver nanoclusters (peptide@AgNCs) were designed. In addition, the antimicrobial activity and mechanism of peptide@AgNCs were studied. The hemolysis and cytotoxicity tests on mammalian cells were used to confirm the biocompatibility of peptide@AgNCs. KLA@AgNCs exhibited dramatic antimicrobial activity without inducing significant cytotoxicity in mammalian cells. The KLA@AgNCs destroyed the integrity of the bacterial membrane and induced ROS accumulation, causing oxidative damage to biomolecules. The malfunction of the respiratory chain complexes I and V completely suppresses the energy production, ultimately accelerating the death of the bacteria. Our findings may advance the development of Ag-based nanomaterials with enhanced bactericidal activity and improved biocompatibility.

• 单位
  苏州大学