V₄C₃ MXene Immune Profiling and Modulation of T Cell‐Dendritic Cell Function and Interaction

Abstract

Although vanadium‐based metallodrugs are recently explored for their effective anti‐inflammatory activity, they frequently cause undesired side effects. Among 2D nanomaterials, transition metal carbides (MXenes) have received substantial attention for their promise as biomedical platforms. It is hypothesized that vanadium immune properties can be extended to MXene compounds. Therefore, vanadium carbide MXene (V4C3) is synthetized, evaluating its biocompatibility and intrinsic immunomodulatory effects. By combining multiple experimental approaches in vitro and ex vivo on human primary immune cells, MXene effects on hemolysis, apoptosis, necrosis, activation, and cytokine production are investigated. Furthermore, V4C3 ability is demonstrated to inhibit T cell‐dendritic cell interactions, evaluating the modulation of CD40–CD40 ligand interaction, two key costimulatory molecules for immune activation. The material biocompatibility at the single‐cell level on 17 human immune cell subpopulations by single‐cell mass cytometry is confirmed. Finally, the molecular mechanism underlying V4C3 immune modulation is explored, demonstrating a MXene‐mediated downregulation of antigen presentation‐associated genes in primary human immune cells. The findings set the basis for further V4C3 investigation and application as a negative modulator of the immune response in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Nano‐bio interactions between 2D nanomaterials and mononuclear phagocyte system cells

“…Most recently, Fusco et al. investigated the impact of V 4 C 3 nanosheets on DCs as well as the interaction between T cell and DC with Ti 3 C 2 as a reference material [199] . Results demonstrated that V 4 C 3 induced a significant decrease in CD69 and CD25 activation markers and strongly inhibited LPS‐induced increase in key proinflammatory cytokines.…”

V2C-Driven Nanodelivery Platform Potentiates Synergistic Breast Cancer Therapy

“…29 Vanadium carbide (V 2 C) nanosheets, one type of MXene, were first used in the biomedical field in 2019. 30 As a member of the MXene family, V 2 C nanosheets have great biocompatibility 31 and can be biodegraded by enzymes. In addition to their large specific surface area, hydrophilicity, and high biocompatibility, which are common to conventional MXene materials, V 2 C nanosheets are also light-responsive nanoagents 32 and show strong absorption in the near-infrared region.…”