Copper-based single-atom catalysts for synergistic antibacterial action: synthesis, mechanisms, and multifunctional applications

• • Cu-SACs achieve atomically dispersed active sites with tunable electronic structures, enabling multimodal antibacterial action via ROS generation, photothermal/photocatalytic effects, and controlled ion release, as evidenced by references to Cu single-atom nanozymes and Cu-O4 single-atom carbon dots (Refs. 79, 86). • • Synthesis routes include thermal activation, solvent-mediated, energy-intensive, and template-etching methods, which enable high loading, stable anchoring, and scalable production—critical for industrial translation. • • Cu-SACs demonstrate potent efficacy against drug-resistant bacteria and biofilms through synergistic mechanisms, with specific examples such as Cu single-atom cascade bionanocatalyst for treating multidrug-resistant diabetic ulcers (Ref. 88). • • Applications span water purification (chemical-free disinfection), antimicrobial textiles (durable self-disinfecting), and biomedical settings (integrated bactericidal-anti-inflammatory-tissue-repair frameworks), addressing critical needs in infection management.