Aggregation-Induced Emission Ionic Liquids for Bacterial Imaging, Biofilm Inhibition, and Mixed Bacterial Infection Wound Healing

The excessive utilization of antibiotics escalates the susceptibility to bacterial infections in the general populace. The misuse of antibiotics and the emergence of bacterial resistance can be effectively regulated through the implementation of bacterial detection technology. Therefore, the construction of a multifunctional platform for bacterial detection and removal holds immense significance. In this research, we have effectively developed an imidazolium ionic liquid (TPE-IL) based on the tetraphenylethylene (TPE) structure with aggregation-induced emission (AIE), enabling effective bacterial imaging, biofilm inhibition, and mixed bacterial infection wound healing. TPE-IL effectively targets and penetrates bacterial surfaces via the electrostatic interactions of its imidazole groups and the hydrophobic interactions of its alkyl chains. This dual-action mechanism not only enhances fluorescence emission from the bacterial surface, enabling precise bacterial imaging, but also exhibits significant bactericidal activity. TPE-IL revealed superior antibacterial activity against both <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>) and <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>). The <i>in vitro</i> anti-biofilm experiments demonstrated that TPE-IL exhibited remarkable inhibitory effects on biofilms formed by <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>E. coli</i>. The <i>in vivo</i> antibacterial experiments confirmed the potent <i>in vivo</i> bactericidal activity of TPE-IL, which significantly reduced inflammatory responses, enhanced collagen deposition, and promoted wound healing without inducing organ damage in mice. Moreover, TPE-IL displayed low cytotoxicity and hemolysis rate. This work has successfully developed a safe and effective platform for bacterial identification and antimicrobial treatment, thereby offering significant implications in addressing the challenges associated with antibiotic resistance and misuse.