MXenes in healthcare: transformative applications and challenges in medical diagnostics and therapeutics

MXenes, a novel class of two-dimensional transition metal carbides, exhibit exceptional physicochemical properties that make them highly promising for biomedical applications. Their application has been explored in bioinstrumentation, tissue engineering, and infectious disease management. In bioinstrumentation, MXenes enhance the sensitivity and response time of wearable sensors, including piezoresistive, electrochemical, and electrophysiological sensors. They also function effectively as contrast agents in MRI and CT imaging for cancer diagnostics and therapy. In tissue engineering, MXenes contribute to both hard and soft tissue regeneration, playing a key role in neural, cardiac, skin and bone repair. Additionally, they offer innovative solutions in combating infectious and inflammatory diseases by facilitating antimicrobial surfaces and immune modulation. Despite their potential, several challenges hinder the clinical translation of MXene-based technologies. Issues related to synthesis, scalability, biocompatibility, and long-term safety must be addressed to ensure their practical implementation in medical applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of MXenes in next-generation medical diagnostics, including the role they play in wearable sensors and imaging contrast agents. It further explores their applications in tissue engineering and infectious disease management, highlighting their antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. Finally, we discuss the key barriers to clinical translation and propose strategies for overcoming these limitations. This review aims to bridge current advancements with future opportunities for integration of MXenes in healthcare.