Photostable pyridine-fused norcorrole nickel(II) dimer for effective photothermal eradication of Staphylococcus aureus infection

Ni(II)-PyNc 2 , a photostable antiaromatic complex with strong near-infrared absorption and high photothermal conversion efficiency, effectively eradicates Staphylococcus aureus infections both in vitro and in vivo through photothermal therapy, demonstrating good biocompatibility and wound-healing potential. • Ni(II)-PyNc 2 is a photostable antiaromatic compound processing unique NIR absorptions. • Ni(II)-PyNc 2 possesses good biocompatibility, photothermal effect, and antibacterial property. • Ni(II)-PyNc 2 is effective to eliminate bacterial burden from wounds with the aid of NIR exposure. Antibiotic resistance is a tricky threat that demands worldwide attention, and there is an urgent need to develop novel therapies for various infections. Photothermal therapy (PTT) relies on photothermal agents (PTAs) and irradiation to induce hyperthermia, which aids in disinfection and the subsequent wound healing, thereby reducing the likelihood of bacterial resistance. In this study, we employed Ni(II)-PyNc 2 , a photostable antiaromatic complex, as a PTA to treat Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) infections. Ni(II)-PyNc 2 exhibited intense near-infrared (NIR) absorption in the range of 650 to 1200 nm and demonstrated a high photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) of 73 %. Utilizing the photothermal effect of Ni(II)-PyNc 2 , we observed an effective suppression of S. aureus growth in vitro . Furthermore, in vivo studies using a mouse abscess model demonstrated its potential for wound healing. Therefore, Ni(II)-PyNc 2 is considered a promising candidate for clinical PTT applications.