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The groundbreaking discovery of graphene in 2004 sparked a surge of interest in the search for novel two-dimensional (2D) materials. Among these, MXenes, first identified by Yury Gogotsi and Michel Barsoum at Drexel University in 2011, have emerged as particularly promising. To date, more than fifty MXene variants have been synthesized, with many more predicted through theoretical models. Over the past decade, MXenes have demonstrated remarkable versatility, with potential applications spanning lithium and sodium-ion batteries, electrocatalysis, optoelectronics, flexible electronics, and various biomedical fields, including cancer treatment, antimicrobial therapies, immunomodulation, targeted drug delivery, and tissue regeneration.
With the growing interest in MXenes for biomedical applications, it is imperative to thoroughly investigate their biocompatibility to ensure both safety and efficacy. In addition, evaluating their biosafety is critical, given the potential environmental risks that may arise from widespread use. Despite numerous studies, defining consistent toxicity profiles for MXenes remains a challenge. This difficulty largely stems from variability in experimental outcomes, even when similar MXene compositions are analyzed. Such inconsistencies are often attributed to differences in chemical purity, levels of oxidation, and the characteristics of surface terminations (Tx) in the materials.
To clarify the influence of MXene properties on biological systems, we conducted an in-depth assessment of how flake size, surface terminations, and oxidation states affect cell viability and metabolic activity over varying exposure durations. Our research revealed a clear connection between the dimensions of Ti₃C₂, V₂C, and Nb₂C MXene flakes, their surface chemistry, and the corresponding cellular responses. These responses encompass the uptake of MXene particles by cells, as well as the activation of pathways leading to apoptosis, necrosis, and genotoxicity. The results emphasize that fine-tuning the structural and chemical features of MXenes is crucial for tailoring their performance in biomedical contexts.
Acknowledgements. This research is supported from the HORIZON-MSCA-2021-SE-01 (Project #101086184) and MSCA4Ukraine project (Project #1232462).
Keywords: MXenes, biocompatibility,
