Exploring the Efficacy of pH-Responsive Vancomycin/Ag/ZIF-8 Nanoparticles Modified with Hyaluronic Acid for Enhanced Antibacterial Therapy and Wound Healing

This study introduces a novel type of metal-organic framework material, specifically zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), that is integrated with silver nanoparticles and further enhanced by incorporating vancomycin (Van) to create a composite named as Van/Ag/ZIF-8. This composite demonstrates a potent and smart antimicrobial effect due to its ability for releasing silver ions and Van in a controlled manner, especially in the microacidic conditions surrounding bacterial cells. Furthermore, we used hyaluronic acid to modify Van/Ag/ZIF-8, resulting in a composite denoted as Van/Ag/ZIF-8@HA. This composite exhibits a significant inhibition effect against the proliferation of both Gram-negative (<i>Escherichia coli</i> 100%) and Gram-positive (<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> 99.9%) resistant bacterial strains while exerting no adverse effects on animal cellular growth. These findings underscore its favorable biocompatibility profile. The experimental results show a combined antibacterial action against prevalent bacterial infections, which is supported by in vivo experiments using a skin wound model. This work confirms the composite's significant role in fighting pathogenic infections and aiding in healing skin wounds. The innovative strategy not only tackles the pressing issue of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections but also marks a significant advancement in the areas of wound healing and medical research, offering a promising path for future investigations and therapeutic uses.