Phase-Dependent MoS₂ Nanosheets-Embedded Urinary Catheter for Advanced Photothermal Sterilization

The high prevalence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) has become a significant concern in the healthcare system, prompting the development of antibacterial urinary catheters to effectively prevent these infections in clinical settings. In this work, metallic phase and semiconducting phase molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) embedded polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were developed as antibacterial urinary catheters with photothermal sterilization. The metallic phase MoS₂ (1T-MoS₂) was synthesized using a facile hydrothermal method, and an annealing process transformed it into the semiconducting phase (2H-MoS₂). The optical and structural characterizations confirmed the successful preparations of 1T-MoS₂ nanosheets (1T-MoS₂ NSs) and 2H-MoS₂ NSs. The increase in the contents of 1T-MoS₂ NSs and 2H-MoS₂ NSs in PDMS resulted in enhanced photothermal conversion, a slight decrease in the water contact angle, and no significant changes in the mechanical properties of the samples. The bacterial growth curves demonstrated the remarkable ability of phase-dependent 1T- and 2H-MoS₂ NSs-embedded PDMS urinary catheters to inhibit the growth of E. coli and S. aureus with near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. In the agar plate test, exposing PDMS with 0.3% 1T-MoS₂ or 2H-MoS₂ to NIR for 10 min demonstrated excellent antibacterial effects, completely eradicating E. coli and eliminating over 99.9% of S. aureus. The SEM image results highlighted the significant photothermal antibacterial effect of 1T-MoS₂ PDMS and 2H-MoS₂ PDMS urinary catheters, effectively damaging and eradicating both E. coli and S. aureus. The 1T-MoS₂ PDMS and 2H-MoS₂ PDMS urinary catheters, with excellent photothermal effects, good hydrophobicity, and superior mechanical properties, demonstrated their potential as photothermal antibacterial catheters for clinical applications.