Innovating Flexible Quantum Dot LEDs for Advanced Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy

The rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria has diminished the effectiveness of antibiotics, necessitating alternative treatments like antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT). However, aPDT adoption is hindered by the lack of suitable wearable light sources. To overcome this barrier, we developed flexible quantum dot light-emitting diodes (F-QLEDs) specifically designed for aPDT applications. By optimizing optical, thermal, and stability parameters, the F-QLEDs achieve precise emission spectrum alignment with photosensitizer absorption, maintain safe surface temperatures (< 40°C) across operating conditions, and exhibit prolonged operational and shelf-life stability in ambient air (>1 month). Biological evaluations revealed significant antimicrobial efficacy, with 1-9 log reductions in MDR pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the adaptability of F-QLEDs was demonstrated using various photosensitizers for targeted aPDT. These advancements highlight the potential of F-QLEDs as versatile, wearable optical platforms for point-of-care MDR infection treatment and other photomedical applications.