An inhalable gallium-polyphenol nanoparticle blocks bacterial electron transport chain and signal transduction for anti-biofilm therapy.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial biofilms have become an escalating global health threat due to their persistent infections and antimicrobial resistance. Conventional antibacterial approaches often fail to eliminate biofilms due to biofilm complexity involving both metabolic activity and intercellular communications. Herein, gallium-quercetin nanoparticles (GEQ NPs) are designed as a multimodal nanoplatform to combat recalcitrant Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm infections through concurrent electron transport chain (ETC) blockage and signal transduction disruption. GEQ NPs are prepared through coordination-driven self-assembly of Ga³⁺, quercetin, and ε-poly-L-lysine, which specifically dissociate in acidic infection microenvironments. The released Ga³⁺ acts as an iron analog to disrup

SUBMITTER: Ni Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12629880 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature