2D Superparamagnetic Tantalum Carbide Composite MXenes for Efficient Breast-Cancer Theranostics

Abstract

Background: The emergence of two-dimensional MXenes has spurred their versatile applications in broad fields, but the exploring of novel MXene-based family members and their potential applications in theranostic nanomedicine (concurrent diagnostic imaging and therapy) have been rarely explored. In this work, we report the construction of a novel superparamagnetic MXene-based theranostic nanoplatform for efficient breast-cancer theranostics, which was based on intriguing tantalum carbide (Ta4C3) MXene and its further rational surface-superparamagnetic iron-oxide functionalization (Ta4C3-IONP-SPs composite MXenes) for efficient breast-cancer theranostic.Methods: The fabrication of ultrathin Ta4C3 nanosheets was based on an exfoliation strategy and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were in-situ grown onto the surface of Ta4C3 MXene according to the redox reaction of MXene. Ta4C3-IONP MXenes were modified with soybean phospholipid (SP) to guarantee high stability in physiological conditions. The photothermal therapy, contrast-enhanced CT, T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and the high biocompatibility of these composite nanosheets have also been evaluated in vitro at cellular level and in vivo on mice breast tumor allograft tumor model.Results: The Ta component of Ta4C3-IONP-SPs exhibits high performance for contrast-enhanced CT imaging because of its high atomic number and high X-ray attenuation coefficient, and the integrated superparamagnetic IONPs act as excellent contrast agents for T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Especially, these Ta4C3-IONP-SPs composite nanosheets with high photothermal-conversion efficiency (η: 32.5%) has achieved complete tumor eradication without reoccurrence, verifying their highly efficient breast-tumor photo-ablation performance.Conclusion: This work not only significantly broadens the biomedical applications of MXene-based nanoplatforms (Ta4C3 MXene) by exploring their novel family members and further functionalization strategies (magnetic functionalization in this work), but also provides a novel and efficient theranostic nanoplatform for efficient breast-cancer theranostics.

Two‐Dimensional Materials for Antimicrobial Applications: Graphene Materials and Beyond

“…Although research into MXenes has expanded very fast and captured much attention in the areas of energy storage, sensing, and catalysis, the biomedical applications of MXenes are still in their infancy. Due to their remarkable photothermal performance, multimodal imaging ability, and excellent biocompatibility, MXenes have already been used for cancer theranostics . However, only a few reports to date have documented the antibacterial activity of MXenes,− which implies a need for further investigation of this aspect.…”

2D Nanomaterials for Cancer Theranostic Applications

“…In particular, the high PTCE of these magnetic MXenes ensures the efficient photothermal eradication of cancer cells and ablation of tumor tissues, as demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. Ta 4 C 3 –IONP nanocomposite MXenes have also been demonstrated to be efficient breast‐cancer theranostics through bimodal CT/MR imaging‐guided PTT . Recently, our group also constructed multifunctional 2D Ti 3 C 2 @Au nanocomposites for bimodal‐imaging‐guided cancer therapy in the NIR‐II range .…”

“…B) 2D superparamagnetic tantalum carbide (Ta 4 C 3 –IONP–SPs) nanocomposites for dual‐modal contrast‐enhanced MRI/CT‐imaging‐guided PTT. Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2018, Ivyspring International Publisher.…”

Recent advancements in two‐dimensional nanomaterials for drug delivery

“…LDHs consist of hydroxide host layers and interlayer anions, with the general formula of [M 2+ 1− x M 3+ x (OH) 2 ](A n − ) x / n · m H 2 O (Gao & Yan, ; D. Liu, Lin, Tang, Deng, & Bi, ; Z. Liu, Lin, Zhao, et al, ; C. Liu, Qin, et al, ; W. Liu, Xu, et al, ; Shao et al, ; Tian et al, ; Q. Wang & O'Hare, ). Notably, LDHs nanosheets can be taken up by specific types of cancer cells via clathrin‐mediated endocytosis, thus leading to the resistance to endosomal effects with buffering properties (G. Choi et al, ).…”

“…For example, g‐C 3 N 4 nanosheets have been developed as drug delivery response to pH for effective cancer therapy (S. Liu et al, ). In another recent study, it has been reported that g‐C 3 N 4 nanosheets exhibit high drug loading capacity towards DOX (D. Liu, Lin, Tang, et al, ; Z. Liu, Lin, Zhao, et al, ; C. Liu, Qin, et al, ; W. Liu, Xu, et al, ). Interestingly, because of the excellent fluorescence imaging ability of g‐C 3 N 4 nanosheets, the drug delivery process can be directly visualized for potential diagnostic purpose (Figure a).…”