Engineering a Gram-Negative Bactericidal Hydrogel: Cu_xTe Nanozyme Functions as a Specific Killer by Hijacking LPS and Flagella Biosynthesis.

ABSTRACT: The treatment of gram-negative bacterial infections remains a formidable challenge due to their resilient outer membrane and adaptive evasion mechanisms. Herein, we present a multifunctional nanozyme hydrogel, copper telluride@cationic guar gum (Cu_xTe@CG), which acts as a gram-negative-specific bactericidal platform. This hydrogel integrates the unique enzymatic and physical properties of urchin-like Cu_xTe nanozymes with the biocompatible and adhesive cationic guar gum (CG) matrix. The Cu_xTe@CG hydrogel exhibits synergistic oxidase- and glutathione peroxidase-like activities, catalyzing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) while depleting bacterial glutathione, thereby inducing lethal oxidative stress. Crucially, transcriptome sequencing revealed

SUBMITTER: Niu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12932864 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature