Facile Fabrication of Titanium Carbide (Ti3C2)-Bismuth Vanadate (BiVO4) Nano-Coupled Oxides for Anti-cancer Activity

Background MXene is a newly discovered substance consisting of 2D transition metal carbides or nitrides, produced through the disintegration and etching of aluminum layers. It possesses numerous properties, including a high surface area, conductivity, strength, stiffness, negative zeta potential, and excellent volumetric capacitance. MXene is utilized in detecting anti-cancer medicine, while bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) is synthesized to form an optimized material for anti-cancer activity applications. BiVO₄ exhibits visible light absorption, strong chemical stability, and non-toxic properties. However, when loaded onto target stem cells, it can cause skin and respiratory irritation. Aim This study aimed to evaluate the facile fabrication of titanium carbide (Ti₃C₂)-BiVO₄ nanomaterials coupled with oxides for anti-cancer activity. Moreover, it aimed to create Ti₃C₂-BiVO₄ nanomaterials in combination with oxides using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assess their potential as efficient and targeted anti-cancer agents. Methods and materials To prepare the 2D Ti₃C₂ MXene, 2.5 g of titanium aluminum carbide (Ti₃AlC₂) powder was dissolved in 60 mL of a 40% hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution in a polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) container. The etching process was made more efficient and completed in 24 hours by using a magnetic stirring system to keep the mixture stirred and heated continuously. The centrifugation was performed at 4000 rpm for five minutes. Subsequently, deionized water was used to wash the solution many times until its pH reached around 7. The appropriate Ti₃C₂ powder was made by vacuum drying the acquired sediment at 80°C for 24 hours. Monoclinic BiVO₄ samples were synthesized via a hydrothermal method. Typically, 10 mmol of Bi(NO₃)₃.5H₂O was dissolved in 100 mL of a 2 mol/L HNO₃ solution and stirred uniformly. Subsequently, 10 mmol of ammonium metavanadate (NH₄VO₃) was added to the mixed solution. After being stirred for one hour, the mixture was transferred into a 100 mL sealed Teflon-lined stainless steel autoclave at 180°C for 16 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the sediment was washed three times with deionized water, ethanol, and acetone, respectively. Finally, the suspension was dried at 80°C, followed by calcination at 450°C for three hours to obtain BiVO₄. Ti₃C₂-BiVO₄ heterostructures were prepared by surface modification Ti₃C₂ using BiVO₄ suspensions by a simple, cost-effective approach. Results Ti₃C₂ nanosheets were observed with BiVO₄ particles, and the high crystalline nature of the compound was confirmed after XRD analysis and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The compound was found to be pure without any impurities and exhibited anti-cancer activity. Conclusion The XRD, field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM), and EDS investigations provide an in-depth analysis of the structural, morphological, and compositional characteristics of Ti₃C₂-BiVO₄ sheets. The XRD analysis proves the successful combination of different materials and the presence of crystalline phases. The FESEM imaging technique exposes the shape and arrangement of particles in sheets, while the EDS analysis verifies the elemental composition and uniform distribution. These investigations show that Ti₃C₂-BiVO₄ composites have been successfully synthesized, indicating their potential for use in anti-cancer applications.