Peroxidase-mimicking activities, photothermal, and antibiotic efficiency of silver selenide nanoparticles as an anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus agent

A new antibacterial mechanism developed by using multiple pathways is important to resolve the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study shows the photothermal properties of Ag₂Se nanoparticles under near-infrared (NIR) in a peroxidase-mimicking reaction. The photothermal conversion response is 47.85% under 808 nm NIR irradiation. Moreover, Ag₂Se nanoparticles show the antibacterial activity by ineffective β-lactam antibiotic ceftazidime (CAZ) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and increased membrane permeability of MRSA. Under synergistic conditions, Ag₂Se killed 3.8 log₁₀ MRSA in the presence of NIR, CAZ, and H₂O₂, which is higher than Ag₂Se + H₂O₂ + NIR (3.4 log₁₀) or Ag₂Se + CAZ + NIR (2.9 log₁₀). The hyperthermia generated by NIR irradiation, ROS from catalyzing H₂O₂ and synergy with CAZ accounted showed the highest antibacterial influence of Ag₂Se.