Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

DOI

10.1016/j.carpta.2025.100863

Publication Title

Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications

Volume

10

Pages

100863 (1-19)

Abstract

MXenes are hydrophilic, conductive, tunable, and biocompatible two-dimensional ceramic materials prepared by etching the 'A' layer from their precursor MAX phases. Although MXenes show exceptional promise in photothermal therapy, biosensing, and regenerative medicine, they face challenges such as oxidative instability in physiological environments, limited drug-loading capacity, and unpredictable immune responses. To address these limitations, MXene/polymer nanocomposites incorporating both synthetic polymers (e.g., polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)) and natural biopolymers (e.g., cellulose nanofiber, gelatin, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and soybean phospholipids) have been developed. These composites enhance functionality for biomedical applications such as photothermal cancer therapy, biosensors, antibacterial agents, bone regeneration, and targeted drug delivery. The hydrophilic nature of MXenes makes them suitable for transformation into metallic-conductive electrodes, while their compatibility with metals, ceramics, and polymers improves performance in advanced applications. This review paper discusses the properties, synthesis methods, and biomedical applications of MXene/polymer nanocomposites, emphasizing the roles of both synthetic and natural biopolymers. Key achievements include near-infrared (NIR) absorption for efficient drug delivery, anticancer activity, bioimaging, and antimicrobial effects. In addition, the limitations of these nanocomposites and potential solutions are examined.

Rights

© 2025 The Authors.

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License.

Data Availability

Article states: "No data was used for the research described in this article."

Original Publication Citation

Amani, A. M., Tayebi, L., Vafa, E., Azizli, M. J., Abbasi, M., Vaez, A., Kamyab, H., Simancas-Racines, D., & Chelliapan, S. (2025). Biomedical MXene-polymer nanocomposites: Advancing photothermal therapy, antibacterial action, and smart drug delivery: A review. Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications, 10, 1-19, Article 100863. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carpta.2025.100863

ORCID

0000-0003-1947-5658 (Tayebi)

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