Citation: Qijia Sun, Wenhai Lin, Ranwei Li, Qingxuan Li, Ke Wang, Zhigang Xie. NIR-activated phototherapy for targeted therapy of MRSA-induced wound infection and pneumonia[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(9): 111970. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111970 shu

NIR-activated phototherapy for targeted therapy of MRSA-induced wound infection and pneumonia

Qijia Sun ^a ,
Wenhai Lin ^b ,
Ranwei Li ^c ,
Qingxuan Li ^a ,
Ke Wang ^{a, *,} ,
Zhigang Xie ^{d, *,}

a.
Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
b.
Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
c.
Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
d.
State Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China

wke@jlu.edu.cn

xiez@ciac.ac.cn

Received Date: 19 August 2025
Revised Date: 11 October 2025
Accepted Date: 14 October 2025
Available Online: 15 October 2025

Figures(5)

The multidrug resistance and robust biofilm-forming capacity of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) present significant challenges to clinical therapy, underscoring the urgent need for the effective antibacterial strategies. While synergistic approaches combining photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) exhibit considerable promise, their efficacy is frequently constrained by limitations in targeted delivery to bacteria and biofilms. This study developed a multifunctional nanoparticle (BDPV) through the conjugation of vancomycin (VAN) with distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol 2000 (DSPE-PEG₂₀₀₀) and the encapsulation of a 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene derivative (BODIPY) possessing both photodynamic and photothermal properties. BDPV employs a dual-targeting mechanism: (1) VAN enables specific targeting of peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall; (2) under the conditions of infection microenvironments, BODIPY undergoes protonation, resulting in charge reversal from negative to positive, thereby enhancing electrostatic interaction to bacteria. Upon irradiation with the near-infrared (NIR) laser, BDPV synergistically generates potent photodynamic and photothermal antibacterial effects, which facilitates highly efficient targeting and effective eradication of drug-resistant bacterial infections. Furthermore, BDPV demonstrated remarkable therapeutic efficacy in both deep-tissue infection models (pneumonia) and superficial infection models (skin wounds). This strategy provides a promising new approach for overcoming drug-resistant bacterial infections and treating associated biofilm-related diseases.
- Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus,
- Photothermal therapy,
- Photodynamic therapy,
- Diabetic wound,
- Pneumonia
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