Gelatin sponge functionalized with gold/silver clusters for antibacterial application

Pathogenic bacterial infection, especially in the wound, may threaten human health. Developing new antibacterial materials for wound healing is still urgent. Metal nanoclusters have been explored as a novel antibacterial agent. Herein, biomolecule gelatin was chosen as a substrate and functionalized with gold/silver clusters for bacterial killing. Through a simple amidation reaction, gold/silver clusters were successfully conjugated in a gelatin substrate to obtain a Au/Ag@gelatin sponge. The presence of gold/silver clusters modified the porous structure of the gelatin. Thus, the water absorption and water retention of the Au/Ag@gelatin sponge were enhanced. More importantly, the gold/silver clusters show aggregation-enhanced emission and strong reactive oxygen generation, that endow the Au/Ag@gelatin sponge with a good antibacterial property. The good physical performance and favorable bactericidal activity of the Au/Ag@gelatin sponge suggest its potential for application as a wound dressing.