Potential Biosafety of Mxenes: Stability, Biodegradability, Toxicity and Biocompatibility

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• MXenes are 2D nanomaterials with diverse applications, primarily in energy storage.
• Their biomedical potential is under-explored due to safety concerns.
• MXenes possess sharp edges, suggesting potential for physical cell damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate the biocompatibility and safety of MXenes for biomedical applications.
• To differentiate between toxicity and biocompatibility concepts for MXenes.
• To review MXene stability, biodegradation, and toxicity mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on MXene stability and biodegradation.
• Analysis of toxicity mechanisms in bacteria, cultured cells, and rodent models.
• Synthesis of findings to assess MXene biocompatibility.

Main Results:

• MXenes exhibit potential antibacterial properties due to their "nanoknife" effect.
• Many studies report low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility in cultured cells and rodents.
• Conflicting data necessitates a deeper understanding of MXene-biological interactions.

Conclusions:

• MXene biocompatibility requires careful consideration of their inherent properties and application context.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate MXene safety profiles for clinical translation.
• Distinguishing between direct physical toxicity and overall biocompatibility is crucial for MXene's biomedical future.