title: Light-enhanced bacterial killing and wash-free imaging based on AIE fluorogen.
abstract: The rapid acquisition of antibiotic resistance poses difficulties in the development of effective methods to eliminate pathogenic bacteria. New bactericides, especially those do not induce the emergence of resistance, are thus in great demand. In this work, we report an aggregation-induced emission fluorogen, TPE-Bac, for bacterial imaging and elimination. TPE-Bac can be readily dissolved in aqueous solution with weak emission. The presence of bacteria can turn on its emission, and thus no washing step is required in the imaging process. Meanwhile, TPE-Bac can be applied as a bactericide for elimination of bacteria. The amphiphilic TPE-Bac bearing two long alkyl chains and two positively charged amines can intercalate into the membrane of bacteria, increase membrane permeability and lead to dark toxicity. The efficiency of bacteria killing is greatly enhanced under light irradiation. TPE-Bac can serve as a photosensitizer to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which ensures the efficient killing of bacteria. The TPE-Bac-containing agar plates can be continuously used for bacteria killing by applying light to induce ROS generation.
authors: †HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing 1st RD, South Area, Hi-tech Park, Nanshan, Shenzhen 518057, China.|‡Department of Chemistry, Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute for Advanced Study, Institute of Molecular Functional Materials, Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Engui
authors: E
authors: Zhao
authors: †HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing 1st RD, South Area, Hi-tech Park, Nanshan, Shenzhen 518057, China.|‡Department of Chemistry, Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute for Advanced Study, Institute of Molecular Functional Materials, Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Yilong
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: †HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing 1st RD, South Area, Hi-tech Park, Nanshan, Shenzhen 518057, China.|‡Department of Chemistry, Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute for Advanced Study, Institute of Molecular Functional Materials, Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: †HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing 1st RD, South Area, Hi-tech Park, Nanshan, Shenzhen 518057, China.|‡Department of Chemistry, Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute for Advanced Study, Institute of Molecular Functional Materials, Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Sijie
authors: S
authors: Chen
authors: †HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing 1st RD, South Area, Hi-tech Park, Nanshan, Shenzhen 518057, China.|‡Department of Chemistry, Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute for Advanced Study, Institute of Molecular Functional Materials, Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Jacky W Y
authors: JW
authors: Lam
authors: †HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing 1st RD, South Area, Hi-tech Park, Nanshan, Shenzhen 518057, China.|‡Department of Chemistry, Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute for Advanced Study, Institute of Molecular Functional Materials, Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Chris W T
authors: CW
authors: Leung
authors: ‡Department of Chemistry, Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute for Advanced Study, Institute of Molecular Functional Materials, Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.|§School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors: Yuning
authors: Y
authors: Hong
authors: †HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing 1st RD, South Area, Hi-tech Park, Nanshan, Shenzhen 518057, China.|‡Department of Chemistry, Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute for Advanced Study, Institute of Molecular Functional Materials, Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.|⊥Guangdong Innovative Research Team, SCUT-HKUST Joint Research Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China.
authors: Ben Zhong
authors: BZ
authors: Tang
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008027:Light; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents
keywords: aggregation-induced emission; bacterial imaging; bactericide; photodynamic therapy; reactive oxygen species