{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T06:13:33Z","timestamp":1788416013892,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788393600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100006606","name":"Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin Municipality","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100006606","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Dental caries, primarily driven by\n                      <jats:italic>Streptococcus mutans<\/jats:italic>\n                      (\n                      <jats:italic>S. mutans<\/jats:italic>\n                      ) biofilms, remains a formidable clinical challenge due to the protective extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix and the limited efficacy of conventional antibiotics.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To address this, we report a biomimetic photothermal nanoplatform (FWA NPs) featuring a hierarchical, urchin-like multi-spiked architecture, synthesized via the co-assembly of ferrocene-tryptophan conjugates and in situ biomineralized gold nanoparticles.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Benefiting from this unique topological structure, FWA NPs maximize interfacial interactions with bacterial membranes and exhibit enhanced near-infrared absorption, achieving a remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency of 54.4%. Under 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, this rapid and localized heat generation induced efficient eradication of\n                      <jats:italic>S. mutans<\/jats:italic>\n                      , which manifested as a dramatic reduction in bacterial colonies from ~107 to ~105 CFU\/mL and irreversible membrane damage characterized by massive surface wrinkling, localized collapse, and membrane rupture. Additionally, FWA NPs reduced the survival rate of\n                      <jats:italic>S. mutans<\/jats:italic>\n                      biofilms to approximately 10%, Crucially, FWA NPs demonstrated excellent biocompatibility with a hemolysis rate of approximately 1% for red blood cells and a relative survival rate of 90% for normal cells.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>By synergistically integrating topological advantages with highly efficient energy conversion, this rationally designed nanoplatform offers a highly effective, non-antibiotic therapeutic paradigm for combating biofilm-associated oral infections and mitigating the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1917604","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T05:22:50Z","timestamp":1788412970000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["A biomimetic urchin-like photothermal nanoplatform for the efficient eradication of Streptococcus mutans and biofilm dispersion"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Yuxia","family":"Wang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cariology and Endodontics, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University","place":["Tianjin, China"]},{"name":"Tianjin Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Function Reconstruction, Tianjin Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jing","family":"Mi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cariology and Endodontics, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University","place":["Tianjin, China"]},{"name":"Tianjin Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Function Reconstruction, Tianjin Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaoling","family":"Cao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cariology and Endodontics, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University","place":["Tianjin, China"]},{"name":"Tianjin Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Function Reconstruction, Tianjin Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Muyao","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Tianjin Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Function Reconstruction, Tianjin Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital","place":["Tianjin, China"]},{"name":"Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Huanhuan","family":"Feng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cariology and Endodontics, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fanying","family":"Kong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cariology and Endodontics, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xinge","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Nankai University","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaobin","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cariology and Endodontics, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University","place":["Tianjin, China"]},{"name":"Tianjin Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Function Reconstruction, Tianjin Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"629","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(21)02724-0","article-title":"Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis","volume":"399","year":"2022","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"229","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tim.2017.09.008","article-title":"Oral biofilms: Pathogens, matrix, and polymicrobial interactions in microenvironments","volume":"2","author":"Bowen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Trends Microbiol."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/adma.202306376","article-title":"Metal-phenolic network with Pd nanoparticle nodes synergizes oxidase-like and photothermal properties to eradicate oral polymicrobial biofilm-associated infections","volume":"36","author":"Chen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Adv. Mater."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1381","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-025-06691-y","article-title":"Global, regional, and national burden of caries in primary teeth from 1990 to 2021: results from the global burden of disease study 2021","volume":"25","author":"Chen","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Oral. Health"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mtbio.2025.101871","article-title":"Recent advances in NIR-II photothermal and photodynamic therapies for drug-resistant wound infections","volume":"32","author":"Chen","year":"2025","journal-title":"Mater. Today Bio"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"399","DOI":"10.1039\/d4tb01420k","article-title":"Gold nanostars and nanourchins for enhanced photothermal therapy, bioimaging, and theranostics","volume":"13","author":"Delgado-Corrales","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Mater. Chem. B"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0325138","article-title":"Structural determinants of inequalities in untreated dental caries in the Global Burden of Disease Study","volume":"20","author":"do Amaral Junior","year":"2025","journal-title":"PloS One"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules29153482","article-title":"A comprehensive review of nanoparticles: From classification to application and toxicity","volume":"29","author":"Eker","year":"2024","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lana.2026.101517","article-title":"The burden of oral disorders in Latin America and Caribbean countries from 1990 to 2023 and projections until 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023","volume":"60","year":"2026","journal-title":"Lancet Reg. Health Am."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.colsurfb.2026.115593","article-title":"Metal nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapy for bacterial eradication: Mechanisms, strategies, and clinical challenges","volume":"263","author":"Kim","year":"2026","journal-title":"Colloids Surf. B. Biointerfaces"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.identj.2025.100904","article-title":"Global burden of dental caries from 1990 to 2021 and future projections","volume":"75","author":"Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. Dent. J."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijbiomac.2024.133287","article-title":"The urchin-like gold nanoparticles\/poly(\u03f5-caprolactone)\/chitosan electrospun nanofibers for antibacterial active packaging","volume":"274","author":"Qin","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. J. Biol. Macromol."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"571","DOI":"10.1038\/s41579-020-0385-0","article-title":"Biofilm dispersion","volume":"18","author":"Rumbaugh","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Microbiol."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms11061614","article-title":"Microbial biofilm: A review on formation, infection, antibiotic resistance, control measures, and innovative treatment","volume":"11","author":"Sharma","year":"2023","journal-title":"Microorganisms"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"519","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-micro-102215-095630","article-title":"Bacterial membranes: Structure, domains, and function","volume":"71","author":"Strahl","year":"2017","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Microbiol."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"433","DOI":"10.3290\/j.ohpd.c_2719","article-title":"Global trends in incidence of caries in permanent teeth of the elderly aged over 55 years 1990-2021: A multilevel analysis using GBD data","volume":"24","author":"Sun","year":"2026","journal-title":"Oral. Health Prev. Dent."},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"591","DOI":"10.1038\/s41579-024-01080-8","article-title":"Challenges and strategies for addressing antibacterial drug resistance in LMICs","volume":"22","author":"Theuretzbacher","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Microbiol."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.identj.2026.109638","article-title":"Advances in nanozyme engineering for precision oral health management","volume":"76","author":"Tong","year":"2026","journal-title":"Int. Dent. J."},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"934","DOI":"10.1126\/science.abn1890","article-title":"The effects of oral microbiota on health","volume":"376","author":"Tuganbaev","year":"2022","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fbioe.2025.1637941","article-title":"Beyond antibiotics: Advances in photothermal strategies for oral infections","volume":"13","author":"Wang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejpb.2026.115046","article-title":"One-step synthesized NIR-responsive polydopamine nanoparticles for synergistic nitric oxide chemotherapy and photothermal therapy against multidrug-resistant bacteria","volume":"223","author":"Wang","year":"2026","journal-title":"Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm."},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fcimb.2025.1750551","article-title":"Zoliflodacin inhibits Streptococcus mutans biofilms","volume":"15","author":"Xu","year":"2026","journal-title":"Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol."},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3967","DOI":"10.1039\/c9cc01025d","article-title":"In situ fabrication of multifunctional gold-amino acid superstructures based on self-assembly","volume":"55","author":"Yang","year":"2019","journal-title":"Chem. Commun. (Camb.)"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"783","DOI":"10.1126\/science.abf7922","article-title":"The genetic underground of antibiotic resistance","volume":"371","author":"Zampieri","year":"2021","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/smll.74281","article-title":"Tailoring the porosity of mesoporous polyphenol nanoparticles for enhanced photothermal antibacterial therapy","volume":"22","author":"Zhu","year":"2026","journal-title":"Small"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1917604\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T05:22:51Z","timestamp":1788412971000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1917604\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"references-count":25,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1917604"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1917604","relation":{},"ISSN":["2235-2988"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2235-2988","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"article-number":"1917604"}}