2D Nanomaterial, Ti3C2 MXene-Based Sensor to Guide Lung Cancer Therapy and Management

Abstract

Major advances in cancer control can be greatly aided by early diagnosis and effective treatment in its pre-invasive state. Lung cancer (small cell and non-small cell) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among both men and women around the world. A lot of research attention has been directed toward diagnosing and treating lung cancer. A common method of lung cancer treatment is based on COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) inhibitors. This is because COX-2 is commonly overexpressed in lung cancer and also the abundance of its enzymatic product prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Instead of using traditional COX-2 inhibitors to treat lung cancer, here, we introduce a new anti-cancer strategy recently developed for lung cancer treatment. It adopts more abundant omega-6 (ω-6) fatty acids such as dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) in the daily diet and the commonly high levels of COX-2 expressed in lung cancer to promote the formation of 8-hydroxyoctanoic acid (8-HOA) through a new delta-5-desaturase (D5Di) inhibitor. The D5Di does not only limit the metabolic product, PGE2, but also promote the COX-2 catalyzed DGLA peroxidation to form 8-HOA, a novel anti-cancer free radical byproduct. Therefore, the measurement of the PGE2 and 8-HOA levels in cancer cells can be an effective method to treat lung cancer by providing in-time guidance. In this paper, we mainly report on a novel sensor, which is based on a newly developed functionalized nanomaterial, 2-dimensional nanosheets, or Ti3C2 MXene. The preliminary results have proven to sensitively, selectively, precisely, and effectively detect PGE2 and 8-HOA in A549 lung cancer cells. The capability of the sensor to detect trace level 8-HOA in A549 has been verified in comparison with the traditional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method. The sensing principle could be due to the unique structure and material property of Ti3C2 MXene: a multilayered structure and extremely large surface area, metallic conductivity, and ease and versatility in surface modification. All these make the Ti3C2 MXene-based sensor selectively adsorb 8-HOA molecules through effective charge transfer and lead to a measurable change in the conductivity of the material with a high signal-to-noise ratio and excellent sensitivity.

Prospects and Challenges of MXenes as Emerging Sensing Materials for Flexible and Wearable Breath‐Based Biomarker Diagnosis

“…[126] The other product of oxidized fatty acids, such as Prostaglandin E2 (PGE-2), is used to monitor lung cancers. [127] Toluene is found in excess in the healed breath of house and car painters and varnish workers. [11] Toluene also can be used to indicate prostate and lung cancers.…”

De novo designed peptides form a highly catalytic ordered nanoarchitecture on a graphite surface

“…5,[20][21][22][23][24] We hypothesized that assembling catalytic peptides on a graphitic surface would fully harness the catalytic potential of peptide assemblies and create a highly functional nanoarchitecture capable of efficiently catalyzing practical chemical reactions. In a proof-of-concept study, we focused on peroxidation reactions due to their potential applications in various processes ranging from cancer therapy, 25 wastewater purification, 26,27 to polymer production. 28 In particular, enhanced capability of accelerating the reduction of H 2 O 2 is essential for constructing electrocatalysts for various peroxidation applications due to its role as an electron acceptor in most peroxidase reactions.…”

Antitumor Applications of Photothermal Agents and Photothermal Synergistic Therapies

“…They have unique physical and chemical properties, an easy surface modification, a high photothermal efficiency, and can promote the extension of tumor blood circulation and improve the accumulation capacity. 2D nanomaterials mainly include graphene and its derivatives, metal compounds [79,80], transition metal dihydroxy compounds (TMDC) [81], black phosphorus (BP) [82,83], and transition metal carbides/carbonitrides (MXene) (e.g., carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides) [84][85][86]. Because GO is highly soluble in aqueous solution, it exhibits obvious targeting, a high absorption, and an excellent PCE in the NIR range.…”