Synergistic antibacterial attributes of copper-doped polydopamine nanoparticles: an insight into photothermal enhanced antibacterial efficacy

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and associated infectious diseases pose a grave threat to human health. The antibacterial activity of metal nanoparticles has been extensively utilized in several biomedical applications, showing that they can effectively inhibit the growth of various bacteria. In this research, copper-doped polydopamine nanoparticles (Cu@PDA NPs) were synthesized through an economical process employing deionized water and ethanol as a solvent. By harnessing the high photothermal conversion efficiency of polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) and the inherent antibacterial attributes of copper ions, we engineered nanoparticles with enhanced antibacterial characteristics. Cu@PDA NPs exhibited a rougher surface and a higher zeta potential in comparison to PDA NPs, and both demonstrated remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency. Comprehensive antibacterial evaluations substantiated the superior efficacy of Cu@PDA NPs attributable to their copper content. These readily prepared nano-antibacterial materials exhibit substantial potential in infection prevention and treatment, owing to their synergistic combination of photothermal and spectral antibacterial features.