MXene-Based Composites as Nanozymes in Biomedicine: A Perspective

Abstract

MXene-based nanozymes have garnered considerable attention because of their potential environmental and biomedical applications. These materials encompass alluring and manageable catalytic performances and physicochemical features, which make them suitable as (bio)sensors with high selectivity/sensitivity and efficiency. MXene-based structures with suitable electrical conductivity, biocompatibility, large surface area, optical/magnetic properties, and thermal/mechanical features can be applied in designing innovative nanozymes with area-dependent electrocatalytic performances. Despite the advances made, there is still a long way to deploy MXene-based nanozymes, especially in medical and healthcare applications; limitations pertaining the peroxidase-like activity and sensitivity/selectivity may restrict further practical applications of pristine MXenes. Thus, developing an efficient surface engineering tactic is still required to fabricate multifunctional MXene-based nanozymes with excellent activity. To obtain MXene-based nanozymes with unique physicochemical features and high stability, some crucial steps such as hybridization and modification ought to be performed. Notably, (nano)toxicological and long-term biosafety analyses along with clinical translation studies still need to be comprehensively addressed. Although very limited reports exist pertaining to the biomedical potentials of MXene-based nanozymes, the future explorations should transition toward the extensive research and detailed analyses to realize additional potentials of these structures in biomedicine with a focus on clinical and industrial aspects. In this perspective, therapeutic, diagnostic, and theranostic applications of MXene-based nanozymes are deliberated with a focus on future perspectives toward more successful clinical translational studies. The current state-of-the-art biomedical advances in the use of MXene-based nanozymes, as well as their developmental challenges and future prospects are also highlighted. In view of the fascinating properties of MXene-based nanozymes, these materials can open significant new opportunities in the future of bio- and nanomedicine.

MXene-Carbon Nanotube Composites: Properties and Applications

“…These composites have been synthesized using mechanical mixing, self-assembly, co-dispersion, electrophoretic deposition, in-situ growth of CNTs on MXenes by chemical vapor deposition, thermal treatment, and microwave-assisted and hydrothermal processes. Among several MXene-CNT architectures introduced, aerogels and foams with 3D structures can be considered as attractive candidates with unique mechanical properties and excellent permeability for gas/liquid, offering great opportunities for various applications [ 33 , 43 ]. However, future studies ought to focus on systematic analysis of thermal, mechanical, porosity, and electrical/electronic features of MXene-CNT composites.…”

Self-Healing MXene- and Graphene-Based Composites: Properties and Applications

“…MXenes are a new class of 2D materials that are composed of nitrides, carbides, and carbonitrides of transition metals with M n+1 X n (n = 1-3) formula, in which M is referred to the early transition metal (like Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, V, Zr, Cr, Sc, Ti) and X refers to the carbon or nitrogen [22][23][24]. They were introduced in 2011 for the first time and have the capability of utilizing in different fields from energy evolution and environmental science to physics and biomedicine (especially nanomedicine) [25][26][27][28][29][30]. These are hydrophilic structures with several surface functional groups (such as oxygen, hydroxyl, and fluorine) and fascinating properties like high biocompatibility, 1 3 good degradability, excellent aqueous dispersibility, and flexibly functionalized materials [31][32][33][34][35].…”

Intelligent Pd1.7Bi@CeO2 Nanosystem with Dual-Enzyme-Mimetic Activities for Cancer Hypoxia Relief and Synergistic Photothermal/Photodynamic/Chemodynamic Therapy

“…For hypoxia alleviation, the naturally occurring catalase is commonly used to supply O 2 by in situ catalyzing the overly existing H 2 O 2 at the tumor site . However, the high cost, easy deactivation, and degradation in complex biological environments seriously impede the widespread popularity and applications of natural enzymes. , Over the past decade, artificial enzyme-like nanomaterials, known as “nanozymes”, have been developed as prospective alternatives for natural enzymes due to their low cost, high stability, and facile synthesis. , Nanozymes not only inherit the catalytic activities of natural enzymes to regulate biochemical reactions but also retain the features of nanomaterials, making them promising platforms for versatile applications. , Up to now, diverse nanozymes, such as Pt, Au, Pd, Au 2 Pt, Fe 3 O 4 , and CeO 2 , have been explored to mimic natural enzymes for colorimetric detection, antibiosis, and therapy. − Taking advantage of the unique TME characteristics, such as mild acidity, hypoxia, and excessive H 2 O 2 , pH- and H 2 O 2 -responsive nanozymes have attracted considerable interest and exhibited great promise for cancer catalytic therapy. , As previously reported, peroxidase (POD) mimetics could supply highly toxic ROS by decomposing H 2 O 2 under acidic conditions, while catalase (CAT) mimetics could react with H 2 O 2 to produce O 2 under neutral conditions. , Therefore, a nanoplatform with both POD- and CAT-like activities is promising for effective anticancer therapy, yet it remains challenging to develop high-performance nanomaterials with multi-enzymatic activities for multifunctional nanotheranostic applications.…”