Multifunctional Two-Dimensional Core-Shell MXene@Gold Nanocomposites for Enhanced Photo-Radio Combined Therapy in the...

Multifunctional nanoplatforms with special advantages in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer have been widely explored in nanomedicine. Herein, we synthesize two-dimensional core-shell nanocomposites (Ti₃C₂@Au) via a seed-growth method starting from the titanium carbide (Ti₃C₂) nanosheets, a classical type of MXene nanostructure. After growing gold on the surface of Ti₃C₂ nanosheets, the stability and biocompatibility of the nanocomposites are greatly improved by the thiol modification. Also importantly, the optical absorption in the near-infrared region is enhanced. Utilizing the ability of the high optical absorbance and strong X-ray attenuation, the synthesized Ti₃C₂@Au nanocomposites are used for photoacoustic and computed tomography dual-modal imaging. Importantly, the mild photothermal effect of the Ti₃C₂@Au nanocomposites could improve the tumor oxygenation, which significantly enhances the radiotherapy. No obvious long-term toxicity of the nanocomposites is found at the injected dose. This work highlights the promise of special properties of MXene-based multifunctional nanostructures for cancer theranostics.