Diedkova Kateryna, Roslyk Iryna, Kanas Nikola, Grine Lita, Deineka Volodymyr, Blacha-Grzechnik Agata, Boroduskis Martins, Iatsunskyi Igor, Anastaziak Błażej, Konieva Anastasia, Shubin Pavlo, Simka Wojciech, Truhins Marks, Sulaieva Oksana, Yanko Ilya, Zahorodna Veronika, Stojanovic Goran, Gogotsi Oleksiy, Gogotsi Yury, Pogorielov Maksym
Biomedical Research Centre, Sumy State University, Sumy 40007, Ukraine.
University of Latvia, Riga LV-1004, Latvia.
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2025 Aug 27;17(34):47919-47937. doi: 10.1021/acsami.5c08807. Epub 2025 Aug 18.
MXenes, a class of two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides, have emerged as promising candidates for biomedical applications due to their electrical conductivity, photothermal response, and rich surface chemistry. However, their biocompatibility is highly sensitive to synthesis conditions, particularly etching and delamination strategies. In this study, we systematically investigated the influence of different synthesis routes─using acidic (concentrated or diluted HF/HCl) etching and Li versus Na intercalation─on the surface chemistry, structural integrity, and biological behavior of TiCT and its carbonitride analog TiCNT. Detailed physicochemical characterization revealed that water-assisted etching and Na intercalation enhanced hydroxylation and reduced fluorine terminations. Biological assays using human keratinocytes (HaCaT) demonstrated that TiCNT exhibited superior biocompatibility compared to TiCT, with lower cytotoxicity, diminished ROS generation, minimal inflammatory signaling (IL-6 and IL-8 interleukins), and preserved wound healing capacity. Among TiCT variants, the combination of diluted etchant and Na intercalation significantly improved biological tolerance, minimizing apoptosis and oxidative stress. These findings underscore the critical role of surface chemistry in MXene-cell interactions and offer a practical guide to engineering safer MXenes for biomedical use.
MXenes是一类二维过渡金属碳化物和氮化物，由于其导电性、光热响应和丰富的表面化学性质，已成为生物医学应用中很有前景的候选材料。然而，它们的生物相容性对合成条件高度敏感，特别是蚀刻和分层策略。在本研究中，我们系统地研究了不同合成路线（使用酸性（浓或稀HF/HCl）蚀刻以及锂与钠插层）对TiCT及其碳氮化物类似物TiCNT的表面化学、结构完整性和生物学行为的影响。详细的物理化学表征表明，水辅助蚀刻和钠插层增强了羟基化并减少了氟端基。使用人角质形成细胞（HaCaT）进行的生物学试验表明，与TiCT相比，TiCNT表现出更好的生物相容性，具有更低的细胞毒性、减少的活性氧生成、最小的炎症信号（IL-6和IL-8白细胞介素）以及保留的伤口愈合能力。在TiCT变体中，稀释蚀刻剂与钠插层的组合显著提高了生物学耐受性，将细胞凋亡和氧化应激降至最低。这些发现强调了表面化学在MXene-细胞相互作用中的关键作用，并为设计用于生物医学用途的更安全的MXenes提供了实用指南。
