Phenolic-enriched Cu/C nanoparticles for enhanced wound healing via ROS generation and photothermal ablation of bacterial infections

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a significant threat to human health, urgently requiring the development of alternative therapeutic strategies. In this study, copper-doped carbon-based nanoparticles (Cu/C NPs) were synthesized by one-pot method using dopamine as the carbon source and reducing agent. The surface of Cu/C NPs were enriched with chelating phenolic groups to reduce Cu⁺/Cu²⁺ leaching and improve biosafety. As they exhibit excellent peroxidase-like (POD-like) activity and photothermal properties, these nanoparticles were broadly used in chemodynamic and photothermal therapies against pathogenic bacterial infections, demonstrating a broad-spectrum bactericidal activity in vitro against S. aureus (100 %) and E. coli (97.7 %). In addition, in vivo anti-microbial tests also showed that Cu/C NPs promote infected-wound healing, thus providing a new approach to combating pathogenic bacterial infections in the clinic.