{"database":"biostudies-literature","file_versions":[],"scores":null,"additional":{"omics_type":["Unknown"],"volume":["11"],"submitter":["Niu J"],"pubmed_abstract":["The intracellular persistence and biofilm-forming capacity of uropathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (UPEC) are major contributors to urinary tract infections (UTIs) recurrence and antibiotic failure. Here, we report a precisely engineered nanotherapeutic based on ZnO quantum dots (QDs) surface-functionalized with low-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol (PEG200), designed to enhance biocompatibility while preserving potent antibacterial activity. The optimized ZnO@PEG200 QDs exhibited excellent aqueous dispersibility, minimal cytotoxicity, and broad-spectrum efficacy against both drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i> strains. Mechanistic studies revealed that the QDs exerted multimodal bactericidal effects, including Zn<sup>2+</sup> ion release, membrane destabiliz"],"journal":["International journal of pharmaceutics: X"],"pagination":["100479"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12808613"],"repository":["biostudies-literature"],"pubmed_title":["Precision PEGylation of ZnO quantum dots enables selective intracellular killing of Uropathogenic &lt;i&gt;E. coli&lt;/i&gt; via multimodal antibacterial mechanisms without inducing resistance."],"pmcid":["PMC12808613"],"pubmed_authors":["Chen Q","Liang X","Zhang M","Liu S","Xin H","Yu H","Gao M","Hong Y","Chen Z","Miao B","Du F","Niu J","Liu B"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"Precision PEGylation of ZnO quantum dots enables selective intracellular killing of Uropathogenic &lt;i&gt;E. coli&lt;/i&gt; via multimodal antibacterial mechanisms without inducing resistance.","description":"The intracellular persistence and biofilm-forming capacity of uropathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (UPEC) are major contributors to urinary tract infections (UTIs) recurrence and antibiotic failure. Here, we report a precisely engineered nanotherapeutic based on ZnO quantum dots (QDs) surface-functionalized with low-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol (PEG200), designed to enhance biocompatibility while preserving potent antibacterial activity. The optimized ZnO@PEG200 QDs exhibited excellent aqueous dispersibility, minimal cytotoxicity, and broad-spectrum efficacy against both drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i> strains. Mechanistic studies revealed that the QDs exerted multimodal bactericidal effects, including Zn<sup>2+</sup> ion release, membrane destabiliz","dates":{"release":"2026-01-01T00:00:00Z","publication":"2026 Jun","modification":"2026-06-06T15:42:06.273Z","creation":"2026-06-02T03:08:53.659Z"},"accession":"S-EPMC12808613","cross_references":{"pubmed":["41551988"],"doi":["10.1016/j.ijpx.2025.100479"]}}