MXene in the lens of biomedical engineering: synthesis, applications and future outlook

Abstract

MXene is a recently emerged multifaceted two-dimensional (2D) material that is made up of surface-modified carbide, providing its flexibility and variable composition. They consist of layers of early transition metals (M), interleaved with n layers of carbon or nitrogen (denoted as X) and terminated with surface functional groups (denoted as Tx/Tz) with a general formula of Mn+1XnTx, where n = 1–3. In general, MXenes possess an exclusive combination of properties, which include, high electrical conductivity, good mechanical stability, and excellent optical properties. MXenes also exhibit good biological properties, with high surface area for drug loading/delivery, good hydrophilicity for biocompatibility, and other electronic-related properties for computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Due to the attractive physicochemical and biocompatibility properties, the novel 2D materials have enticed an uprising research interest for application in biomedicine and biotechnology. Although some potential applications of MXenes in biomedicine have been explored recently, the types of MXene applied in the perspective of biomedical engineering and biomedicine are limited to a few, titanium carbide and tantalum carbide families of MXenes. This review paper aims to provide an overview of the structural organization of MXenes, different top-down and bottom-up approaches for synthesis of MXenes, whether they are fluorine-based or fluorine-free etching methods to produce biocompatible MXenes. MXenes can be further modified to enhance the biodegradability and reduce the cytotoxicity of the material for biosensing, cancer theranostics, drug delivery and bio-imaging applications. The antimicrobial activity of MXene and the mechanism of MXenes in damaging the cell membrane were also discussed. Some challenges for in vivo applications, pitfalls, and future outlooks for the deployment of MXene in biomedical devices were demystified. Overall, this review puts into perspective the current advancements and prospects of MXenes in realizing this 2D nanomaterial as a versatile biological tool.

Nanocomposite Conductive Bioinks Based on Low-Concentration GelMA and MXene Nanosheets/Gold Nanoparticles Providing Enhanced Printability of Functional Skeletal Muscle Tissues

“… 21 − 23 Despite its utilization in different biomedical applications, the effect of incorporating MXene in bioprinted bioinks has been poorly explored. 24 In the literature, there is only one study conducted by Rastin et al in which MXene was incorporated in a hyaluronic acid/alginate hydrogel. The results of the study showed promising potential of MXene in 3D bioprinting.…”

Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials beyond Graphene for Biomedical Applications

“…In recent years MXenes have been used as novel photothermal therapy agents to treat mouse breast cancer cells due to their unique properties [40]. [39]. 2021, BMC); (b) MXene chemistry (Reprinted with permission from ref.…”

MXene (Ti3C2Tx)-Embedded Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications: A Review

“…It is being used as a solution for people who have allergic responses to CT contrast agents. Materials containing gadolinium, which are extensively employed as MRI contrast agents, have been linked to an increased risk of kidney injury [ 8 ]. As an MRI contrast agent, the composites made by growing nanosized manganese oxide on MXenes have shown great promise [ 79 ].…”

“…Gogotsi’s group at Drexel university recently developed a vast family of transition metal nitrides and/or carbides, termed MXenes [ 3 ], which are also obtainable from other layered compounds, such as Zr 3 Al 3 C 5 and Mo 2 Ga 2 C. The common formula for MXenes can be transcribed as: M n+1 X n T x ( n = 1–3) [ 4 ], where M is an early transition metal (e.g., Zr, Ti, V, Ta, Nb, or Mo) and X is nitrogen and/or carbon [ 5 ]. Such MXenes are usually prepared from their corresponding mass in MAX phase by careful etching of layers of Group IIIA or IVA elements by fluoride-based entities, and therefore their basal faces are frequently finished with surface moieties (T x ), namely, a mixture of O, F and OH [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”