Dual-atomic Ag–Mn nanozyme/peptide coating enables ROS-driven antibacterial enhancement on ureteral stents

Ureteral stent-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs) remain a significant clinical challenge, primarily due to bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. To address this, we engineered a multifunctional antibacterial coating composed of co-assembled peptide–silver–manganese (PAMN) nanozymes for ureteral stent surface modification. This composite integrates silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), manganese dioxide (MnO2), and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), achieving a synergistic enhancement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and bactericidal activity. The PAMN coating effectively disrupts bacterial membranes, reduces protein adsorption, and inhibits bacterial adhesion. Compared to AMP-only coatings, PAMN-coated stents exhibited a 129% larger bacterial inhibition zone. Furthermore, PAMN surfaces demonstrated an approximately 40% reduction in protein adsorption, suggesting a lower potential for bacterial colonization. Bacterial viability assays and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging further confirmed the decreased bacterial adhesion and elevated bactericidal efficacy of the coating. This nanozyme-enabled antibacterial coating offers a promising strategy to mitigate infection risks associated with ureteral stents and may be broadly applicable to other implantable medical devices requiring anti-biofilm functionality.