This research demonstrates that small silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) are more effective than conventional silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in combating multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The amphiphilic ligands in AgNCs enhance their interaction with bacterial cell membranes, facilitating endocytosis. Furthermore, the nanocluster structure promotes peroxide-like activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, leading to increased bactericidal potency. AgNCs effectively impaired cell membranes, induced oxidative stress, and inhibited ATP synthesis, resulting in superior bacterial killing efficacy both in vitro and in vivo (mouse pneumonia model). The AgNCs also exhibited excellent biocompatibility.

Yongqi Chen, Liting Ren, Lingyao Sun, Xuan Bai, Guoqiang Zhuang, Bin Cao, Guoqing Hu, Nanfeng Zheng, Sijin Liu