Enzyme-Photocatalyst Tandem Microrobot Powered by Urea for Escherichia coli Biofilm Eradication.

Journal: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
PMID: 35122470

Abstract

Urinary-based infections affect millions of people worldwide. Such bacterial infections are mainly caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) biofilm formation in the bladder and/or urinary catheters. Herein, the authors present a hybrid enzyme/photocatalytic microrobot, based on urease-immobilized TiO /CdS nanotube bundles, that can swim in urea as a biocompatible fuel and respond to visible light. Upon illumination for 2 h, these microrobots are able to remove almost 90% of bacterial biofilm, due to the generation of reactive radicals, while bare TiO /CdS photocatalysts (non-motile) or urease-coated microrobots in the dark do not show any toxic effect. These results indicate a synergistic effect between the self-propulsion provided by the enzyme and the photocatalytic activity induced under light stimuli. This work provides a photo-biocatalytic approach for the design of efficient light-driven microrobots with promising applications in microbiology and biomedicine.

Authors

  • Katherine Villa
    Center for Advanced Functional Nanorobots Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, Prague, 166 28, Czech Republic.
  • Hanna Sopha
    Center of Materials and Nanotechnologies, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Náměstí čs, Legií 565, Pardubice, 530 02, Czech Republic.
  • Jaroslav Zelenka
    Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technicka 5, 166 28, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
  • Martin Motola
    Center of Materials and Nanotechnologies, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Náměstí čs, Legií 565, Pardubice, 530 02, Czech Republic.
  • Lukas Dekanovsky
    Center for Advanced Functional Nanorobots Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, Prague, 166 28, Czech Republic.
  • Darya Chylii Beketova
    Center of Materials and Nanotechnologies, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Náměstí čs, Legií 565, Pardubice, 530 02, Czech Republic.
  • Jan M Macak
    Center of Materials and Nanotechnologies, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Náměstí čs, Legií 565, Pardubice, 530 02, Czech Republic.
  • Tomáš Ruml
    Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technicka 5, 166 28, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
  • Martin Pumera
    Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University , Singapore 637371.

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