MXene/Metal-Organic Framework Heterojunctions Facilitate Bacterial-Infected Wound Repair via Exogenous and Endogenous Synergistic Stimulations

The antibiotic resistance of bacteria and the lack of efficient antibacterial agents result in significant worsening of microbial infection symptoms. To address this daunting issue, a multimodal antibacterial strategy that combines exogenous and endogenous stimulations is proposed. A novel two-dimensional heterojunction (termed MXP HJs) is developed by in situ growth of the metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) onto the MXene via the dielectric barrier discharge technique. Under light irradiation, MXP HJs exhibit excellent photocatalytic and photothermal performance to provide exogenous stimulation for killing bacteria. In addition, the MXP HJs promote electron transfer at the interfaces between the MXP HJs and bacteria, and this inhibits bacterial ribosomal pathways, resulting in endogenous antibacterial activity. Furthermore, MXP HJs can significantly promote wound healing through bacterial clearance, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis. Thus, this work lays the foundation for the development of a photocatalytic HJ platform that can be used in antibacterial applications for infectious wound repair.