Engineering of 2D Ti3C2 MXene Surface Charge and its Influence on Biological Properties

Abstract

Current trends in the field of MXenes emphasize the importance of controlling their surface features for successful application in biotechnological areas. The ability to stabilize the surface properties of MXenes has been demonstrated here through surface charge engineering. It was thus determined how changing the surface charges of two-dimensional (2D) Ti3C2 MXene phase flakes using cationic polymeric poly-L-lysine (PLL) molecules affects the colloidal and biological properties of the resulting hybrid 2D nanomaterial. Electrostatic adsorption of PLL on the surface of delaminated 2D Ti3C2 flakes occurs efficiently, leads to changing an MXene’s negative surface charge toward a positive value, which can also be effectively managed through pH changes. Analysis of bioactive properties revealed additional antibacterial functionality of the developed 2D Ti3C2/PLL MXene flakes concerning Escherichia. coli Gram-negative bacteria cells. A reduction of two orders of magnitude of viable cells was achieved at a concentration of 200 mg L−1. The in vitro analysis also showed lowered toxicity in the concentration range up to 375 mg L−1. The presented study demonstrates a feasible approach to control surface properties of 2D Ti3C2 MXene flakes through surface charge engineering which was also verified in vitro for usage in biotechnology or nanomedicine applications.

Controlling the Porosity and Biocidal Properties of the Chitosan-Hyaluronate Matrix Hydrogel Nanocomposites by the Addition of 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene

“…Peaks at 1320 cm −1 and 660 cm −1 are derived from O-H and Ti-O stretching vibrations as confirmed by Zhang et al [ 63 ]. In the pristine MXene phase spectrum, a peak from the C-F group at 948 cm -1 can be seen and had been confirmed in our earlier work [ 47 ]. In the spectrum obtained for the polymer matrix without the addition of the Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene sheets, signals from functional groups such as NH at 3176 cm −1 or CH at 2935 cm −1 overlap with the wide –OH at 3500–2900 cm −1 .…”

“…There is evidence that both chitosan and sodium hyaluronate are characterized by antibacterial properties [ 75 , 76 ]. The pure Ti 3 C 2 T x phase (not surface-oxidized and not surface-modified) does not reveal the antimicrobial effect [ 47 ] because of the absence of the surface Ti x O y oxides [ 52 ]. As can be seen, increasing levels of 2D Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene, stabilized by L-ascorbic acid, did not significantly affect the biocidal properties of the chitosan-hyaluronate hydrogels.…”

“…The Ti 3 AlC 2 MAX phase was obtained using the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technique, which was described in our previous work [ 47 ]. Briefly, the method comprises blending titanium, aluminum and synthetic graphite powders in a ball-type mill in isopropyl alcohol with a molar ratio Ti:Al:C of 3:1:1.9.…”

Filtration Materials Modified with 2D Nanocomposites—A New Perspective for Point-of-Use Water Treatment

“…The Ti 3 AlC 2 MAX phase for MXenes was produced by powder metallurgy and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) and described in our previous work [ 28 ]. Titanium powder (Goodfellow, Great Britain), aluminum powder (Benda-Lutz Skawina, Skawina, Poland), and synthetic graphite powder (Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) were ball milled, dried, and sieved (# = 300 µm).…”

Smart and Sustainable Nanotechnological Solutions in a Battle against COVID-19 and Beyond: A Critical Review

“…In a recent study, CQDs with a concentration-dependent antiviral activity of EC50 of 52 μg mL –1 were obtained using hydrothermal carbonization of citric acid in a mixture with ethylenediamine. 104 During synthesis, CQDs were subsequently modified with boronic acid ligands. This is important from the activity point of view because the surface modification of nanomaterials has a crucial impact on biological response.…”