Multifunctional BODIPY for effective inactivation of Gram-positive bacteria and promotion of wound healing

Bacterial infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance seriously endanger human health, so alternative therapies for bacterial infections are urgently needed. Recently, photodynamic therapy against bacteria has shown great potential because of its high efficiency and low acquired resistance. Here, we design and synthesize a dipyrromethene boron difluoride (BODIPY) photosensitizer containing a guanidine group LIBDP for combating bacterial infections. The positively charged guanidine can destroy the bacterial membrane and inhibit the proliferation of bacteria to a certain extent. Upon light irradiation, LIBDP can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can destroy the pre-formed biofilm and induce potent antibacterial activity. In addition, the guanidine of LIBDP can be oxidized to nitric oxide (NO) by the generated ROS, which can not only improve the antibacterial effect, but also promote wound healing. The strategy in this work paves the way for synthesizing high-performance antibacterial materials.