The emergence of multidrug-resistant microbial pathogens poses a significant threat, severely limiting the options for effective antibiotic therapy. This challenge can be overcome through the photoinactivation of pathogenic bacteria using materials generating reactive oxygen species upon exposure to visible light. These species target vital components of living cells, significantly reducing the likelihood of resistance development by the targeted pathogens. In our research, we have developed a nanocomposite material consisting of an aqueous colloidal suspension of graphene oxide sheets adorned with nanoaggregates of octahedral molybdenum cluster complexes. The negative charge of the graphene oxide and the positive charge of the nanoaggregates promoted their electrostatic interaction in aqueous medium and close cohesion between the colloids. Upon illumination with blue light, the colloidal system exerted a potent antibacterial effect against planktonic cultures of Staphylococcus aureus largely surpassing the individual contributions of the components. The underlying mechanism behind this phenomenon lies in the photoinduced electron transfer from the nanoaggregates of the cluster complexes to the graphene oxide sheets, which triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species. Thus, leveraging the unique properties of graphene oxide and light-harvesting octahedral molybdenum cluster complexes can open more effective and resilient antibacterial strategies.

CNRS Saint Gobain NIMS IRL3629 Laboratory for Innovative Key Materials and Structures National Institute for Materials Science 1 1 Namiki Tsukuba 305 0044 Japan

Department of Applied Chemistry Faculty of Science and Engineering Waseda University 3 4 1 Okubo Shinjuku ku Tokyo 169 8555 Japan

Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology University of Chemistry and Technology Prague Praha 166 28 Czech Republic

Global Center for Science and Engineering Waseda University 3 4 1 Okubo Shinjuku ku Tokyo 169 8555 Japan

Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Husinec Řež 250 68 Czech Republic

Interfaces Confinement Matériaux et Nanostructures ICMN UMR 7374 CNRS Université d'Orléans 1 Rue de la Férollerie Orléans 45100 France

Kagami Memorial Institute for Materials Science and Technology Waseda University 2 8 26 Nishiwaseda Shinjuku ku Tokyo 169 0051 Japan

Univ Rennes CNRS Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes UMR 6226 Rennes 35000 France

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