Drug-Free Ultrasound-Responsive Mechanoluminescent Suture Enables On-Demand Antibacterial Therapy and Enhanced Healing of Infected Wounds.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 42446259.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1002/adhm.202505833.
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Abstract
Conventional antibacterial sutures commonly rely on antibiotic loading, which may be associated with concerns regarding drug resistance and biocompatibility. To address this challenge, this study developed a drug-free, ultrasound-responsive mechanoluminescent suture. By incorporating SrAl<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>:Eu<sup>2</sup> <sup>+</sup>, Dy<sup>3</sup> <sup>+</sup> (SAOED) into poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) fibers, PCL/SAOED (PS) sutures were fabricated. Upon ultrasound irradiation, the PS sutures generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in situ, likely through a mechanoluminescence-mediated process, resulting in antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus without the use of exogenous antimicrobial agents, with PS10 achieving approximately 75% and 79% reduction against the two strains, respectively, while PS20 exceeded 80% in preliminary tests. In vitro experiments indicated that PS sutures exhibited acceptable biocompatibility and measurable ROS-scavenging capacity. In a rat full-thickness skin defect model, ultrasound-activated PS sutures were associated with improved healing outcomes in both infected and non-infected wounds, with suggestive evidence of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and pro-angiogenic effects. Overall, this study presents a preliminary strategy that may inform the development of drug-free, ultrasound-responsive, on-demand antibacterial smart sutures, pending further mechanistic and preclinical validation.