Developing a Multifunctional Silk Fabric with Dual-Driven Heating and Rapid Photothermal Antibacterial Abilities Using High-Yield MXene Dispersions

Sr-doped surfaces with 2D black phosphorus nanosheets for enhanced photothermal antibacterial activity and zirconia implant osseointegration

Zirconia (ZrO2) has emerged as a preferred material for dental implants due to its excellent chemical inertness, absence of metal allergies and esthetic appeal. However, its limited bioactivity regarding infection resistance and early osseointegration hinders its implantation success rate compared to titanium implants. Herein, we developed a PDPA@Sr/BP coating for ZrO2 implants to address these limitations. First, inspired by the adhesive properties of mussel foot proteins, a PDPA@Sr coating enriched with positively charged amine groups and strontium (Sr) ions was applied to the ZrO2 surface. This coating stably anchored black phosphorus (BP) to the implant, effectively regulating its degradation rate and ensuring long-lasting antibacterial properties. Under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, BP generated localized heat, efficiently killing bacteria. Simultaneously, the release of Sr and phosphate ions from the PDPA@Sr/BP coating promoted bone formation and enhanced osseointegration. This study systematically evaluated the antibacterial effects and osseointegration-promoting properties of the PDPA@Sr/BP coating through both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results demonstrated that compared to untreated ZrO2 surfaces, the coating significantly enhances the implant's antibacterial properties and accelerates its surface osseointegration. This study proposes an innovative strategy to improve the clinical performance of ZrO2 implants, demonstrating substantial potential for clinical translation.

Durable Metallized Liquid Crystal Polymer Fibers Enable Flexible and Tough Electrical Heaters

Fiber-shaped electrical heaters with high flexibility and excellent adaptability make an ideal candidate for the application of wearable electronics but still suffer from low strength and poor durability. Herein, an all-in-one Joule-heating fiber capable of outstanding mechanical properties, good heating efficiency, and long-term stability is reported by using polymer-assisted metal deposition to firmly coat Cu nanoparticles on high-performance liquid crystal polymer (LCP) fibers. Taking advantage of LCP, the resultant fibers exhibit a satisfying temperature threshold (up to 200 °C) and immense strength (2.94 GPa). By virtue of dense and continuous Cu film, these fibers show low electrical resistance (5.51 Ω/cm) and an ultrafast response rate (12.6 °C·s-1) at low supplied voltages (0.5-3.5 V). Benefiting from the levodopa/polyethyleneimine interface design, such fibers maintain nearly constant resistance after repeatable bending, folding, and even washing (50 cycles). Based on the above-mentioned merits, a wearable patch with a Joule-heating function is knitted by using as-made fibers to offer therapeutic benefits for human body joints. This work demonstrates prospective potential for enriching the challenging applications of fiber-shaped electrical heating systems.

The effect of silk short fiber biomimetic materials on the recovery of sports function in patients with meniscal injury during sports

BackgroundIn sports, especially high-intensity and high-risk activities, the meniscus is easily damaged. For patients with meniscus injuries, it is necessary to repair or replace the patient's meniscus. However, as age increases, the human meniscus tissue gradually forms and cannot be repaired through its own meniscus. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain the patient's movement function through meniscus support materials.ObjectiveTraditional meniscus support materials have poor mechanical properties and poor biocompatibility. In response to this issue, this study designed a meniscus scaffold made of silk short fibers, silk fibroin, and wool protein.MethodsThrough electrospinning and freeze-drying techniques, the material was processed to obtain a silk short fiber meniscus with a biomimetic structure.ResultsThrough experiments, the surface morphology, hydrophobicity, porosity, secondary structure, thermal stability, water absorption swelling, and MP of MCS made of SSF biomimetic materials were characterized.ConclusionThe experimental results show that the manufactured silk short fiber meniscus has good compressive performance, thermal stability, and water absorption and swelling properties, and it also exhibits good biocompatibility.

Preparation and Applications of Multifunctional MXene/Tussah Silk Fabric

The development of functional textiles has become a key focus in recent years, aiming to meet the diverse requirements of modern society. MXene has excellent conductivity, hydrophilicity, and UV resistance, and is widely used in electromagnetic shielding, sensors, energy storage, and photothermal conversion. Tussah silk (TS) is a unique natural textile raw material and has a unique jewelry luster, natural luxury, and a smooth and comfortable feel. However, there are relatively few studies on the functional finishing of TS fabric with Ti3C2Tx MXene. Here, we developed a multifunctional MXene/tussah silk (MXene/TS) fabric by the deposition of Ti3C2Tx MXene sheets on the surface of TS fabric through a simple padding-drying-curing process. The obtained MXene/TS fabric (five cycles) exhibited excellent conductivity (4.8 S/m), air permeability (313.6 mm/s), ultraviolet resistance (ultraviolet protection factor, UPF = 186.3), photothermal conversion (temperature increase of 11 °C), and strain sensing. Thanks to these superior properties, the MXene/TS fabric has broad application prospects in motion monitoring, smart clothing, flexible wearables, and artificial intelligence.

Emerging trends and future challenges of advanced 2D nanomaterials for combating bacterial resistance

The number of multi-drug-resistant bacteria has increased over the last few decades, which has caused a detrimental impact on public health worldwide. In resolving antibiotic resistance development among different bacterial communities, new antimicrobial agents and nanoparticle-based strategies need to be designed foreseeing the slow discovery of new functioning antibiotics. Advanced research studies have revealed the significant disinfection potential of two-dimensional nanomaterials (2D NMs) to be severed as effective antibacterial agents due to their unique physicochemical properties. This review covers the current research progress of 2D NMs-based antibacterial strategies based on an inclusive explanation of 2D NMs' impact as antibacterial agents, including a detailed introduction to each possible well-known antibacterial mechanism. The impact of the physicochemical properties of 2D NMs on their antibacterial activities has been deliberated while explaining the toxic effects of 2D NMs and discussing their biomedical significance, dysbiosis, and cellular nanotoxicity. Adding to the challenges, we also discussed the major issues regarding the current quality and availability of nanotoxicity data. However, smart advancements are required to fabricate biocompatible 2D antibacterial NMs and exploit their potential to combat bacterial resistance clinically.

Research Progress on Ti3C2Tx-Based Composite Materials in Antibacterial Field

The integration of two-dimensional Ti3C2Tx nanosheets and other materials offers broader application options in the antibacterial field. Ti3C2Tx-based composites demonstrate synergistic physical, chemical, and photodynamic antibacterial activity. In this review, we aim to explore the potential of Ti3C2Tx-based composites in the fabrication of an antibiotic-free antibacterial agent with a focus on their systematic classification, manufacturing technology, and application potential. We investigate various components of Ti3C2Tx-based composites, such as metals, metal oxides, metal sulfides, organic frameworks, photosensitizers, etc. We also summarize the fabrication techniques used for preparing Ti3C2Tx-based composites, including solution mixing, chemical synthesis, layer-by-layer self-assembly, electrostatic assembly, and three-dimensional (3D) printing. The most recent developments in antibacterial application are also thoroughly discussed, with special attention to the medical, water treatment, food preservation, flexible textile, and industrial sectors. Ultimately, the future directions and opportunities are delineated, underscoring the focus of further research, such as elucidating microscopic mechanisms, achieving a balance between biocompatibility and antibacterial efficiency, and investigating effective, eco-friendly synthesis techniques combined with intelligent technology. A survey of the literature provides a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art developments in Ti3C2Tx-based composites and their potential applications in various fields. This comprehensive review covers the variety, preparation methods, and applications of Ti3C2Tx-based composites, drawing upon a total of 171 English-language references. Notably, 155 of these references are from the past five years, indicating significant recent progress and interest in this research area.

Organic-inorganic hybrid ZIF-8/MXene/cellulose-based textiles with improved antibacterial and electromagnetic interference shielding performance

Despite the tremendous efforts on developing antibacterial wearable textile materials containing Ti3C2Tx MXene, the singular antimicrobial mechanism, poor antibacterial durability, and oxidation susceptibility of MXene limits their applications. In this context, flexible multifunctional cellulosic textiles were prepared via layer-by-layer assembly of MXene and the in-situ synthesis of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8). Specifically, the introduction of highly conductive MXene enhanced the interface interactions between the ZIF-8 layer and cellulose fibers, endowing the green-based materials with outstanding synergistic photothermal/photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT) activity and adjustable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance. In-situ polymerization formed a MXene/ZIF-8 bilayer structure, promoting the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) while protecting MXene from oxidation. The as-prepared smart textile exhibited excellent bactericidal efficacy of >99.99 % against both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) after 5 min of NIR (300 mW cm-2) irradiation which is below the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) limit. The sustained released Zn2+ from the ZIF-8 layer achieved a bactericidal efficiency of over 99.99 % within 48 h without NIR light. Furthermore, this smart textile also demonstrated remarkable EMI shielding efficiency (47.7 dB). Clearly, this study provides an elaborate strategy for designing and constructing multifunctional cellulose-based materials for a variety of applications.

Deep eutectic supramolecular polymer functionalized MXene for enhancing mechanical properties, photothermal conversion, and bacterial inactivation of cellulose textiles

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides (Ti3C2Tx MXene) have gained significant attention for their potential in constructing diverse functional materials, However, MXene is easily oxidized and weakly bound to the cellulose matrix, which pose challenges in developing MXene-decorated non-woven fabric with strong bonding and stable thermal management properties. Herein, we successfully prepared deep eutectic supramolecular polymer (DESP) functionalized MXene to address these issues. MXene can be wrapped with DESP to be insulated from water and protected from being oxidized. Subsequently, we achieved an efficient in-situ deposition of DESP-functionalized MXene onto fibers through a combination of dip coating and photopolymerization technique. The resulting nonwoven fabric (CNs-DESP@M) exhibited excellent photothermal conversion properties along with rapid thermal response and functional stability. Interestingly, the interface bonding between MXene and the fiber surface was significantly enhanced due to the abundant pyrogallol groups in DESP, resulting in the composite textile exhibiting commendable mechanical properties (2.68 MPa). Moreover, the as-prepared textile demonstrates outstanding bactericidal efficacy against both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The multifunctional textile, created through a facile and efficient approach, demonstrates remarkable potential for applications in smart textiles, catering to the diverse needs of individuals in the future.

Application and Development of Smart Thermally Conductive Fiber Materials

In recent years, with the rapid advancement in various high-tech technologies, efficient heat dissipation has become a key issue restricting the further development of high-power-density electronic devices and components. Concurrently, the demand for thermal comfort has increased; making effective personal thermal management a current research hotspot. There is a growing demand for thermally conductive materials that are diversified and specific. Therefore, smart thermally conductive fiber materials characterized by their high thermal conductivity and smart response properties have gained increasing attention. This review provides a comprehensive overview of emerging materials and approaches in the development of smart thermally conductive fiber materials. It categorizes them into composite thermally conductive fibers filled with high thermal conductivity fillers, electrically heated thermally conductive fiber materials, thermally radiative thermally conductive fiber materials, and phase change thermally conductive fiber materials. Finally, the challenges and opportunities faced by smart thermally conductive fiber materials are discussed and prospects for their future development are presented.

Ru(II) Complex Grafted Ti3C2Tx MXene Nano Sheet with Photothermal/Photodynamic Synergistic Antibacterial Activity

For a long time, the emergence of microbial drug resistance due to the abuse of antibiotics has greatly reduced the therapeutic effect of many existing antibiotics. This makes the development of new antimicrobial materials urgent. Light-assisted antimicrobial therapy is an alternative to antibiotic therapy due to its high antimicrobial efficiency and non-resistance. Here, we develop a nanocomposite material (Ru@MXene) which is based on Ru(bpy)(dcb)²⁺ connected to MXene nanosheets by ester bonding as a photothermal/photodynamic synergistic antibacterial material. The obtained Ru@MXene nanocomposites exhibit a strengthened antimicrobial capacity compared to Ru or MXene alone, which can be attributed to the higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) yield and the thermal effect. Once exposed to a xenon lamp, Ru@MXene promptly achieved almost 100% bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli (200 μg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (100 μg/mL). This is ascribed to its synergistic photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) capabilities. Consequently, the innovative Ru@MXene can be a prospective non-drug antimicrobial therapy that avoids antibiotic resistance in practice. Notably, this high-efficiency PTT/PDT synergistic antimicrobial material by bonding Ru complexes to MXene is the first such reported model. However, the toxic effects of Ru@MXene materials need to be studied to evaluate them for further medical applications.

HRP-catalyzed grafting of MXene@PGA to silk fibers for visualization of dual-driven heating smart textile

MXene-based functional textiles have been widely studied and applied in many fields. However, the service stability of MXene combined with textile substrates in the environment is far from ideal, which makes its practical application a great challenge. Here we introduced gallic acid (GA), as natural reactive polyphenol compound to silk fibers through enzymatic polymerization, which significantly improved the durability of its conductivity. The small molecules of GA can covalently bind to the titanium atoms on the MXene nanosheets, and the tyrosine residues from silk fibroins can be enzymatically oxidized by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and further coupled with GA simultaneously, thus forming a covalent cross-linked network on the fiber surfaces. Furthermore, the durable MXene-based textile was used to manufacture smart dual-driven thermal devices with temperature monitoring, which can judge the real-time temperature during heating by changes in its apparent color. More importantly, the textile with smart temperature visualization also offers good EMI shielding and superior UV resistance, while retaining its inherent moisture-wicking, breathable and softness. The present work provides a new insight for the preparation of MXene-based multifunctional textile, and the smart visualization of dual-driven heating shows promising applications in practical personal thermal management.

Versatile Melanin-Like Coatings with Hierarchical Structure toward Personal Thermal Management, Anti-Icing/Deicing, and UV Protection

Superhydrophobic photothermal coatings are promising for multifunctional applications due to the efficient use of solar energy, but the current challenge is to seek one easy-to-prepare material with high photothermal performance. Herein, inspired by mussel adhesion and lotus leaf surfaces, we developed superhydrophobic photothermal coatings with hierarchical structure by depositing melanin-like polydopamine (PDA) and dip-coating polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/hydrophobic fumed silica (SiO₂) sequentially. Benefitting from the efficient photothermal conversion performance of PDA, the coated fabric can rapidly warm up to 100 °C under 100 mW/cm² sun irradiation. Meanwhile, the coatings show excellent superhydrophobic properties (WCA of 163°), which not only prevent the adhesion of the contaminant from maintaining a long-term and efficient photothermal performance but also help the fabric to own outstanding passive anti-icing and active deicing performances. Furthermore, the superhydrophobic properties of the coatings can be maintained after sandpaper abrasion, repeat tape-peeling, and ultrasonication. In addition, superior UV protection of the coatings can meet the long-term service conditions under outdoor sunlight. The PDA-based superhydrophobic photothermal coatings are believed to inspire new strategies for solar-driven multifunctional applications such as personal thermal management, anti-icing/deicing of variously shaped components, photothermal antibacterial, and so on.

Thermoresponsive MXene composite system with high adsorption capacity for quick and simple removal of toxic metal ions from aqueous environment

High-performance adsorption and easy-to-recycle property of adsorbents are desirable in wastewater treatment, and a suitably smart adsorbent with responsive phase separation capacity is promising in this regard. Herein, a thermoresponsive composite system is designed through the combination of transition metal carbides (MXene) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) for removal of toxic metal ions from water. As a thermoresponsive switch, the PNIPAM endows such composite system with superior thermoresponsiveness (i.e., gel-water phase separation) in water, which facilitates to the control of adsorption. The gel phase triggered by an elevated temperature (e.g., 40 °C) quickly adsorbs toxic metal ions, and then a solid-liquid extraction way is used to conveniently separated the gel phase from water phase for simple removal of toxic metal ions. A very high adsorption capacity (e.g., ~224 mg·g^-1 for Cu²⁺) can be achieved due to the synergistic effects of the composite system. Moreover, the separated gel can be back to a redispersed state at low temperature (e.g., 20 °C), enabling its effective regeneration and recovery. Notably, the PNIPAM as a protective agent prevents the oxidation of MXene so as to retain good stability during the multiple adsorption/desorption cycles. This simple and smart adsorption strategy is great promising for water purification application.

Zero Energy Heating of Solvent with Network-Structured Solar-Thermal Material: Eco-Friendly Palladium Catalysis of the Suzuki Reaction

Solar-thermal materials absorb sunlight and convert it into heat, which is released into the surrounding medium. Utilization of solar energy for solvent heating can be a potential method of eco-friendly organic reactions. However, to date, significant heating of the entire volume of a solvent by 1 sun illumination has not been reported. In the present work, a network structure of solar-thermal materials has been proposed for zero energy heating of a solvent under 1 sun illumination. A network-structured solar-thermal material with an additional catalytic function was fabricated by sputtering palladium into a melamine sponge. The nanocrystalline palladium-decorated melamine sponge (Pd-sponge) has excellent sunlight absorption properties in the entire wavelength range that enable efficient solar-thermal conversion. The Pd-sponge can reduce heat loss to the surroundings by effectively blocking thermal radiation from the heated solvent. The temperature of the reaction solution with the ethanol-water mixture filled in the Pd-sponge increased from 23 to 59 °C under 1 sun illumination. The elevated temperature of the reaction solutions by solar-thermal conversion successfully accelerated the heterogeneous Pd-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reactions with high conversions. Easy and low-energy-consuming multicycle use of the solar-thermal and catalytic properties of the Pd-sponge has also been demonstrated.

Recent Advancements on Photothermal Conversion and Antibacterial Applications over MXenes-Based Materials

HIGHLIGHTS

Fabrication, characterizations and photothermal properties of MXenes are systematically described. Photothermal-derived antibacterial performances and mechanisms of MXenes-based materials are summarized and reviewed. Recent advances in the derivative applications relying on antibacterial properties of MXenes-based materials, including in vitro and in vivo sterilization, solar water evaporation and purification, and flexible antibacterial fabrics, are investigated.

ABSTRACT

The pernicious bacterial proliferation and emergence of super-resistant bacteria have already posed a great threat to public health, which drives researchers to develop antibiotic-free strategies to eradicate these fierce microbes. Although enormous achievements have already been achieved, it remains an arduous challenge to realize efficient sterilization to cut off the drug resistance generation. Recently, photothermal therapy (PTT) has emerged as a promising solution to efficiently damage the integrity of pathogenic bacteria based on hyperthermia beyond their tolerance. Until now, numerous photothermal agents have been studied for antimicrobial PTT. Among them, MXenes (a type of two-dimensional transition metal carbides or nitrides) are extensively investigated as one of the most promising candidates due to their high aspect ratio, atomic-thin thickness, excellent photothermal performance, low cytotoxicity, and ultrahigh dispersibility in aqueous systems. Besides, the enormous application scenarios using their antibacterial properties can be tailored via elaborated designs of MXenes-based materials. In this review, the synthetic approaches and textural properties of MXenes have been systematically presented first, and then the photothermal properties and sterilization mechanisms using MXenes-based materials are documented. Subsequently, recent progress in diverse fields making use of the photothermal and antibacterial performances of MXenes-based materials are well summarized to reveal the potential applications of these materials for various purposes, including in vitro and in vivo sterilization, solar water evaporation and purification, and flexible antibacterial fabrics. Last but not least, the current challenges and future perspectives are discussed to provide theoretical guidance for the fabrication of efficient antimicrobial systems using MXenes. [Image: see text]