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Ultraefficiently Calming Cytokine Storm Using Ti3C2T MXene
Tianyi Wang1, Xiaoyu Sun2, Xin Guo1
1Faculty of Science University of Technology Sydney Sydney NSW 2007 Australia.
Insights
New 2D MXene sheets show ultrahigh removal of interleukin-6, a key cytokine in severe COVID-19. This advanced material offers superior hemoperfusion capabilities compared to activated carbon for treating cytokine storm syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials science
- Nanotechnology
- Immunology
Background:
- Cytokine storm syndrome is a critical factor in COVID-19 mortality.
- Hemoperfusion is used to mitigate cytokine storm by removing cytokines from blood.
- Activated carbon is a conventional absorbent, but its efficiency can be improved.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene sheets for cytokine removal.
- To compare the efficacy of MXene with activated carbon in removing interleukin-6.
- To explore the mechanism of cytokine immobilization by MXene.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene sheets.
- In vitro experiments measuring the removal efficiency of MXene for interleukin-6.
- Comparative analysis with activated carbon absorbents.
- Molecular-level investigations of the interaction mechanism between MXene and interleukin-6.
Main Results:
- 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene demonstrated an ultrahigh removal capability for interleukin-6.
- MXene exhibited 13.4 times higher removal efficiency than activated carbon.
- A strong chemisorption mechanism was identified for MXene's immobilization of interleukin-6.
- MXene showed excellent blood compatibility without adverse effects on blood components.
Conclusions:
- 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene sheets are highly effective in removing interleukin-6, a key cytokine in cytokine storm.
- MXene offers a superior alternative to activated carbon for hemoperfusion applications.
- This discovery paves the way for using MXene in treating severe COVID-19 by managing cytokine storm syndrome.
Abstract:
During the global outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, "cytokine storm" conditions are regarded as the fatal step resulting in most mortality. Hemoperfusion is widely used to remove cytokines from the blood of severely ill patients to prevent uncontrolled inflammation induced by a cytokine storm. This article discoveres, for the first time, that 2D Ti3C2T MXene sheet demonstrates an ultrahigh removal capability for typical cytokine interleukin-6. In particular, MXene shows a 13.4 times higher removal efficiency over traditional activated carbon absorbents. Molecular-level investigations reveal that MXene exhibits a strong chemisorption mechanism for immobilizing cytokine interleukin-6 molecules, which is different from activated carbon absorbents. MXene sheet also demonstrates excellent blood compatibility without any deleterious side influence on the composition of human blood. This work can open a new avenue to use MXene sheets as an ultraefficient hemoperfusion absorbent to eliminate the cytokine storm syndrome in treatment of severe COVID-19 patients.
