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Highlights Fabrication, characterizations and photothermal properties of MXenes are systematically described. Photothermal-derived antibacterial performances and mechanisms of MXenes-based materials are summarized and reviewed. Recent advances in the derivative applications relying on antibacterial properties of MXenes-based materials, including in vitro and in vivo sterilization, solar water evaporation and purification, and flexible antibacterial fabrics, are investigated. Abstract The pernicious bacterial proliferation and emergence of super-resistant bacteria have already posed a great threat to public health, which drives researchers to develop antibiotic-free strategies to eradicate these fierce microbes. Although enormous achievements have already been achieved, it remains an arduous challenge to realize efficient sterilization to cut off the drug resistance generation. Recently, photothermal therapy (PTT) has emerged as a promising solution to efficiently damage the integrity of pathogenic bacteria based on hyperthermia beyond their tolerance. Until now, numerous photothermal agents have been studied for antimicrobial PTT. Among them, MXenes (a type of two-dimensional transition metal carbides or nitrides) are extensively investigated as one of the most promising candidates due to their high aspect ratio, atomic-thin thickness, excellent photothermal performance, low cytotoxicity, and ultrahigh dispersibility in aqueous systems. Besides, the enormous application scenarios using their antibacterial properties can be tailored via elaborated designs of MXenes-based materials. In this review, the synthetic approaches and textural properties of MXenes have been systematically presented first, and then the photothermal properties and sterilization mechanisms using MXenes-based materials are documented. Subsequently, recent progress in diverse fields making use of the photothermal and antibacterial performances of MXenes-based materials are well summarized to reveal the potential applications of these materials for various purposes, including in vitro and in vivo sterilization, solar water evaporation and purification, and flexible antibacterial fabrics. Last but not least, the current challenges and future perspectives are discussed to provide theoretical guidance for the fabrication of efficient antimicrobial systems using MXenes.

Globally, millions of people die of microbial infection-related diseases every year. The more terrible situation is that due to the overuse of antibiotics, especially in developing countries, people are struggling to fight with the bacteria variation. The emergence of super-bacteria will be an intractable environmental and health hazard in the future unless novel bactericidal weapons are mounted. Consequently, it is critical to develop viable antibacterial approaches to sustain the prosperous development of human society. Recent researches indicate that transition metal sulfides (TMSs) represent prominent bactericidal application potential owing to the meritorious antibacterial performance, acceptable biocompatibility, high solar energy utilization efficiency, and excellent photo-to-thermal conversion characteristics, and thus, a comprehensive review on the recent advances in this area would be beneficial for the future development. In this review article, we start with the antibacterial mechanisms of TMSs to provide a preliminary understanding. Thereafter, the state-of-the-art research progresses on the strategies for TMSs materials engineering so as to promote their antibacterial properties are systematically surveyed and summarized, followed by a summary of the practical application scenarios of TMSs-based antibacterial platforms. Finally, based on the thorough survey and analysis, we emphasize the challenges and future development trends in this area.

DJB preferentially increases serum taurine-conjugated BAs, probably because of more BA reabsorption in the terminal ileum. The gut microbiota is altered with more Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and less Bacteroidetes.

The preferentially elevated serum taurine-conjugated BAs were similar after different bariatric surgeries, and the enhanced conjugation of BAs in the liver might account for the changed serum BAs profiles.

The excessive anthropogenic CO2 emission caused by the combustion of fossil resources has caused serious global ecological and energy problems in recent decades. As one of the most effective solutions...

The sensing mechanisms and effective strategies for enhancing the formaldehyde detection performance of metal oxide semiconductors have been reviewed.

We report on a photonic crystal slab patterned on a 690 nm thick LiNbO3 thin film bonded to SiO2 on lithium niobate substrate. The transmission spectrum is measured and a broad and clear photonic bandgap ranging from 1335 to 1535 nm with a maximum extinction ratio of more than 20 dB is observed. The bandgap is simulated by plane wave expansion and 3D finite-difference time-domain methods. Such a deep and broad bandgap structure can be used to form high-performance photonic devices and circuits on the platform of lithium niobate-on-insulator.