Bioorthogonal transformation of imaging and therapeutic substrates using transition metal catalysts (TMCs) provides a toolkit with diverse applications in biomedicine. Controlled localization of bioorthogonal catalysis is key for enhancing their therapeutic efficacy by minimizing off-target effects. Red blood cells (RBCs) are highly biocompatible and are susceptible to hemolysis by bacterial toxins, providing them with intrinsic targeting to bacterial infections. A hitchhiking strategy using RBCs is reported, that activates bioorthogonal catalysis at infection sites. A library of nanoparticles embedded with TMCs (nanozymes) featuring diverse functional groups with different binding ability to RBCs is generated. These engineered nanozymes bind to RBCs and subsequently release upon hemolysis by bacterial toxins, resulting in selective accumulation at the site of bacterial infections. The antimicrobial action is specific: catalytic activation of pro-antibiotics eradicated pathogenic biofilms without harming non-virulent bacterial species.

Erythrocyte-mediated delivery of bioorthogonal nanozymes for selective targeting of bacterial infections