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Intriguing anti-superbug Cu2O@ZrP hybrid nanosheet with enhanced antibacterial performance and weak cytotoxicity

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Abstract

In view of it’s strong antibacterial function and minor toxicity, cuprous oxide (Cu2O) is frequently used in various broad-spectrum antibacterial reagents. Nonetheless the undesirable effects of superbugs still remain challenging. In this research, a chemical deposition approach is used to prepare a Cu2O@ZrP composite with nanosheet configuration demonstrating excellent dispersibility and antibacterial traits. From systematic analysis, it was inffered that the content of copper in the nanosheet was about 57–188 mg/g while the average thickness of the nanosheets Cu2O formed on ZrP is approximately 0.8 nm. The results of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) revealed that an extremely low loading of Cu2O in Cu2O@ZrP nanosheet can lead to exceptional antibacterial activity. Examined on two various superbugs; i.e. methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE), the composite nanosheet reagent performed over 99% microbial reduction. More intesetingly, the cell growth rate of the Cu2O@ZrP nanosheet was determined to be 20% lower than that of the neat Cu2O, manifesting a weaker cytotoxicity. This unique hybrid nanosheet with intriguing anti-superbug performance promises highly efficient protection for the fabrics, battledress, and medical textiles.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Nos. 2016YFA0201702 and 2016YFA0201700), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Nos. 2232018A3-01 and 2232018D3-03) and the Innovative Research Team in University of Ministry of Education of China (No. IRT16R13), the International Joint Laboratory for Advanced fiber and Low-dimension Materials (No. 18520750400).

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  1. Jialiang Zhou and Hengxue Xiang contributed equally to this work.

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  1. State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, International Joint Laboratory for Advanced Fiber and Low-dimension Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China

    Jialiang Zhou, Hengxue Xiang, Fatemeh Zabihi, Senlong Yu, Bin Sun & Meifang Zhu

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  1. Jialiang Zhou
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  2. Hengxue Xiang
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Correspondence to Meifang Zhu.

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Zhou, J., Xiang, H., Zabihi, F. et al. Intriguing anti-superbug Cu2O@ZrP hybrid nanosheet with enhanced antibacterial performance and weak cytotoxicity. Nano Res. 12, 1453–1460 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-019-2406-8

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