Bioinspired hybrid eumelanin–TiO ₂ antimicrobial nanostructures: the key role of organo–inorganic frameworks in tuning eumelanin's biocide action mechanism through membrane interaction

mediated eumelanin polymerization leads to a peculiar mechanism of action of hybrid nanostructures, whose strong interactions with bacterial membranes enhance the action of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by eumelanin degradation itself, also concurring with the final biocide action. These findings provide strategic information for the development of eumelanin-based systems with enhanced activity against drug-resistant strains.