Current trends in the field of MXenes emphasize the importance of controlling their surface features for successful application in biotechnological areas. The ability to stabilize the surface properties of MXenes has been demonstrated here through surface charge engineering. It was thus determined how changing the surface charges of two-dimensional (2D) Ti3C2 MXene phase flakes using cationic polymeric poly-L-lysine (PLL) molecules affects the colloidal and biological properties of the resulting hybrid 2D nanomaterial. Electrostatic adsorption of PLL on the surface of delaminated 2D Ti3C2 flakes occurs efficiently, leads to changing an MXene’s negative surface charge toward a positive value, which can also be effectively managed through pH changes. Analysis of bioactive properties revealed additional antibacterial functionality of the developed 2D Ti3C2/PLL MXene flakes concerning Escherichia. coli Gram-negative bacteria cells. A reduction of two orders of magnitude of viable cells was achieved at a concentration of 200 mg L−1. The in vitro analysis also showed lowered toxicity in the concentration range up to 375 mg L−1. The presented study demonstrates a feasible approach to control surface properties of 2D Ti3C2 MXene flakes through surface charge engineering which was also verified in vitro for usage in biotechnology or nanomedicine applications.
A recent discovery of the unique biological properties of two-dimensional transition metal carbides (MXenes) resulted in intensive research on their application in various biotechnological areas, including polymeric nanocomposite systems. However, the true potential of MXene as an additive to bioactive natural porous composite structures has yet to be fully explored. Here, we report that the addition of 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene by reducing the porosity of the chitosan-hyaluronate matrix nanocomposite structures, stabilized by vitamin C, maintains their desired antibacterial properties. This was confirmed by micro computed tomography (micro-CT) visualization which enables insight into the porous structure of nanocomposites. It was also found that given large porosity of the nanocomposite a small amount of MXene (1–5 wt.%) was effective against gram-negative Escherichia coli, gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus sp. bacteria in a hydrogel system. Such an approach unequivocally advances the future design approaches of modern wound healing dressing materials with the addition of MXenes.
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