Non‐Covalent Interaction Induced Supramolecular Precipitate with Hetero‐Motif Polyionic Junction for Durable Antimicrobial Activity and Infected Wound Healing

The A2G-Cu-SA supramolecular precipitate, rendered “water-insoluble” through a bottom-up assembly strategy, integrates the polyanion sodium alginate with antimicrobial agents A2G and Cu²⁺. This integration capitalizes on the synergies of non-covalent interactions to create a hetero-motif polyionic junction, thereby realizing long-lasting antimicrobial efficacy and the acceleration of infected wound healing.

Abstract

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the pressing demand for antimicrobial materials that offer both durability and efficacy. Herein, the successful design and fabrication of a “water-insoluble” supramolecular precipitate is reported through the “bottom-up” assembly of polyanion sodium alginate (SA) with the antimicrobial motifs A2G and Cu²⁺. This innovative hetero-motif polyionic junction leverages a network of hydrogen bonds aligning with electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic effects to mitigate the rapid release of active components, providing exceptional long-term antimicrobial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Candida albicans (C. albicans). Specifically, it retains an impressive 99.9% efficacy against S. aureus even after enduring 10 successive wash cycles. The hydroxyl groups in A2G-Cu-SA confer exceptional adhesion to a wide array of substrates. This robust adherence is complemented by its enduring antibacterial properties, with the material maintaining a 99.9% efficacy rate after being submerged in water for an extended period of 100 days. In vivo and in vitro studies substantiate the biocompatibility of A2G-Cu-SA, while its clinical potential is evidenced by the enhanced healing of S. aureus-infected wounds upon titanium sheet coating. This innovation meets the current need for effective antimicrobials and contributes to sustainable medical advancements.