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Bacterial infection is the leading cause of many severe inflammation diseases. The development of novel and effective therapeutic approaches to counter bacterial infections, especially for drug-resistant bacteria, is essential. Herein, we have successfully developed an ultrasound-active tricarbonyl rhenium(I) complex with tetraphenylethylene (TPE) modification (RePy-TPE) for CO gas therapy and sonodynamic therapy of bacterial infections. RePy-TPE produced reactive oxygen species and released CO under ultrasound irradiation. In addition, RePy-TPE showed aggregation-induced emission in water due to the introduction of TPE, which enhanced the yield of 1O2 generation in a biological aqueous solution. The produced 1O2 and released CO killed mycobacterium smegmatis (M. smegmatis) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), as shown by bacterial membrane damage and biofilm elimination. Furthermore, ultrasound-active RePy-TPE perturbed the purine metabolism of the bacteria, which disturbed the biosynthesis of DNA and energy metabolism, eventually reducing the vitality of bacteria. This article provides a novel strategy for the development of ultrasound-active metal-based antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa) administration to replenish neuronal dopamine remains the most effective treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, unlike the continuous and steady dopamine signaling in normal neurons, oral Dopa induces dramatic fluctuations in plasma Dopa levels, leading to Dopa-induced dyskinesia. Herein, we report a functional nucleic acid-based responsive artificial enzyme (FNA-Fe3O4) for in situ continuous Dopa production. FNA-Fe3O4 can cross the blood-brain barrier and target diseased neurons relying on transferrin receptor aptamer. Then, FNA-Fe3O4 responds to overexpressed α-synuclein mRNA in diseased neurons for antisense oligonucleotide treatment and fluorescence imaging, while converting to tyrosine aptamer-based artificial enzyme (Apt-Fe3O4) that mimics tyrosine hydroxylase for in situ continuous Dopa production. In vivo FNA-Fe3O4 treatment results in recovery of Dopa and dopamine levels and decrease of pathological overexpressed α-synuclein in PD mice model, thus ameliorating motor symptoms and memory deficits. The presented functional nucleic acid-based responsive artificial enzyme strategy provides a more neuron friendly approach for the diagnosis and treatment of PD. Oral dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa) administration to replenish neuronal dopamine is a treatment for Parkinson's disease but induces fluctuations in plasma Dopa levels. Here the authors report a nucleic acid-based responsive artificial enzyme (FNA-Fe3O4) for in situ continuous Dopa production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]