Promoting Role of MXene Nanosheets in Biomedical Sciences: Therapeutic and Biosensing Innovations

Abstract

MXene nanosheets have emerged as biocompatible transition metal structures, which illustrate desirable performance for various applications due to their unique structural, physicochemical, and compositional features. MXenes are currently expanding their usage territory from mechanical, optical, chemical, and electronic fields toward biomedical areas. This is mainly originated from their large surface area and strong absorbance in near‐infrared region, which in combination with their facile surface functionalization with various polymers or nanoparticles, make them promising nanoplatforms for drug delivery, cancer therapy, precise biosensing and bioimaging. The facile surface modification of the MXenes can mediate the better in vivo performance of them through reduced toxicity, enhanced colloidal stability, and extended circulation within the body. Herein, the synthesis and state‐of‐the‐art progresses of MXene nanosheets designed for biomedical applications, including structural‐ and dose‐dependent antimicrobial activity, photothermal therapy, drug delivery, and implants are emphasized. Furthermore, biosensing applications are highlighted and a comprehensive discussion on photoacoustic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography imaging, and optical imaging of MXenes is presented. The challenges and future opportunities of applying MXene nanomaterials in the area of biomedicine are also discussed.

Two‐Dimensional Transition Metal Carbides and Nitrides (MXenes): Synthesis, Properties, and Electrochemical Energy Storage Applications

“…For example, the most widely studied member—titanium carbide MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T x )—has exhibited an electronic conductivity up to ~10 000 S/cm and an impressively high Young's modulus (0.33 ± 0.03 TPa) measured in the single layer, a value that is very close to the Young's modulus of micro‐mechanically exfoliated graphene (~1 TPa) . Because of this, MXenes have found extensive applications with impressive performance in supercapacitors (SCs), rechargeable (Li, Na, K‐ion) batteries, transparent conductive films, electromagnetic interference shielding, antibacterial coatings, water treatment, photothermal conversion, hydrogen storage, etc.…”

A nontoxic biocompatible nanocomposite comprising black phosphorus with Au–γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles

“…[4][5][6][7] Aer the immense success of graphene, researchers recently focused on a wide range of thin 2D materials, such as boron nitride, graphite carbon nitride, MXenes, bismuth, zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF), different types of carbon based nanoparticles and quantum dots. [8][9][10][11][12] The reasons behind their increasing use for biomedical application can be attributed to their unique physicochemical properties, surface-to-volume ratio, atomic thickness, controllable electronic and mechanical properties. 9 Moreover, they are biologically safe or can be functionalized to make them biocompatible aer the interaction with cell and tissues which makes them ideal for their use in biomedical eld.…”

“…[8][9][10][11][12] The reasons behind their increasing use for biomedical application can be attributed to their unique physicochemical properties, surface-to-volume ratio, atomic thickness, controllable electronic and mechanical properties. 9 Moreover, they are biologically safe or can be functionalized to make them biocompatible aer the interaction with cell and tissues which makes them ideal for their use in biomedical eld. 10 In the midst of this emerging post-graphene scenario, black phosphorus (BP) has emerged as a new 2D nanomaterial, which can be easily used for various biomedical applications, such as biosensing, drug delivery, and bioimaging.…”

MXene Materials for Designing Advanced Separation Membranes

“…Naturally, a fine collection of reviews provided insights regarding their preparation, functionalization, purification, characterization, and material properties. [25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Several reviews also focused on the application potential of MXenes for a wide range of subjects including energy storage, [31][32][33][34][35][36] (electro)catalysis and sensing, [31,33,34,37] and biomedical, [38][39][40] to name a few. As separation membranes are closely related to thin films and composite materials, the discussions provided in some of those reviews hinted at the preparation of MXene-based membranes.…”