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Multifunctional Cellulose Nanofiber Films With Embedded Highly Oriented MXene Flakes
Valeriia Poliukhova1, Jacob Crossno2,3, Kateryna Diedkova4,5
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|August 4, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed robust, transparent cellulose-nanofiber and MXene films with aligned nanosheets. These advanced photonic films exhibit photothermal antimicrobial activity and potential for wound healing applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biomaterials
Background:
- Developing ultrathin, transparent films with robust, cytocompatible, and antimicrobial properties is challenging.
- Existing materials often lack multifunctionality or require complex fabrication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the physical properties of freestanding cellulose nanofiber-MXene (CNF-MXene) films.
- To investigate the potential of these films as a multifunctional platform for biomedical applications, particularly wound healing.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of freestanding micrometer-thick films using vacuum-assisted filtration of cellulose nanofibers and Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets.
- Characterization of film properties, including mechanical strength, optical clarity, and photothermal activity.
- Assessment of antimicrobial efficacy using near-infrared light activation and molecular adsorption capabilities.
Main Results:
- Achieved near-perfect in-plane order of MXene flakes (Herman's orientation parameter up to 0.94) within the cellulose nanofiber matrix.
- Demonstrated significant increases in mechanical strength and elastic modulus due to the highly ordered structure.
- Exhibited effective near-infrared-activated photothermal antimicrobial behavior and molecular adsorption capabilities at low MXene content.
Conclusions:
- Ultrathin CNF-MXene films offer a unique combination of mechanical robustness, optical clarity, and active photothermal antimicrobial properties.
- The aligned structure and nanofiber matrix provide a stable scaffold for enhanced functionality.
- These films represent a promising multifunctional platform for advanced wound-healing applications and preservation technologies.
