biostudies-literatureXu ZNatural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (Jiangsu Provincial Natural Science Foundation)NIDCR NIH HHS3713https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6137151biostudies-literatureUnknown9(1)The use of natural substance to ward off microbial infections has a long history. However, the large-scale production of natural extracts often reduces antibacterial potency, thus limiting practical applications. Here we present a strategy for converting natural organosulfur compounds into nano-iron sulfides that exhibit enhanced antibacterial activity. We show that compared to garlic-derived organosulfur compounds nano-iron sulfides exhibit an over 500-fold increase in antibacterial efficacy to kill several pathogenic and drug-resistant bacteria. Furthermore, our analysis reveals that hydrogen polysulfanes released from nano-iron sulfides possess potent bactericidal activity and the release of polysulfanes can be accelerated by the enzyme-like activity of nano-iron sulfides. Finally, we demonstrate that topical applications of nano-iron sulfides can effectively disrupt pathogenic biofilms on human teeth and accelerate infected-wound healing. Together, our approach to convert organosulfur compounds into inorganic polysulfides potentially provides an antibacterial alternative to combat bacterial infections.Nature communicationsConverting organosulfur compounds to inorganic polysulfides against resistant bacterial infections.PMC6137151R01 DE02584820161333Jiang JLi DGu YHe JKoo HLiu QYan XXu JQiu ZLiu YXi JHuang YFan KGao LGao XShen XXu ZTang YfalseConverting organosulfur compounds to inorganic polysulfides against resistant bacterial infections.The use of natural substance to ward off microbial infections has a long history. However, the large-scale production of natural extracts often reduces antibacterial potency, thus limiting practical applications. Here we present a strategy for converting natural organosulfur compounds into nano-iron sulfides that exhibit enhanced antibacterial activity. We show that compared to garlic-derived organosulfur compounds nano-iron sulfides exhibit an over 500-fold increase in antibacterial efficacy to kill several pathogenic and drug-resistant bacteria. Furthermore, our analysis reveals that hydrogen polysulfanes released from nano-iron sulfides possess potent bactericidal activity and the release of polysulfanes can be accelerated by the enzyme-like activity of nano-iron sulfides. Finally, we demonstrate that topical applications of nano-iron sulfides can effectively disrupt pathogenic biofilms on human teeth and accelerate infected-wound healing. Together, our approach to convert organosulfur compounds into inorganic polysulfides potentially provides an antibacterial alternative to combat bacterial infections.2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Sep2021-02-20T13:14:16Z2019-03-26T23:56:14ZS-EPMC61371513021394910.1038/s41467-018-06164-7