Two dimensional (2D) MXenes as an emerging class of materials for antimicrobial applications: properties and mechanisms

MXenes have gained significant importance in many applications in the fields of energy, environment and healthcare. The versatile features of MXenes enable them as a wonder material for their wide category of ap-plications. Tunable surface chemistry and nano-dimensional layered features of MXenes are accounted for their improved multifunctional properties among the other two-dimensional materials. Of various applications, MXenes show the relevant properties toward antimicrobial disinfection of bacteria, fungi and viruses including the SARS responsible for COVID-19. Therefore, the development, characterizations and mechanism of MXenes-based materials are important to bring these advanced materials for their real-time antimicrobial applications. In this context, this review presents a glimpse of MXenes in terms of their synthesis processes, characterizations, antimicrobial properties, and elucidate their mechanism of actions toward antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities. Finally, it concludes with a future perspective of MXenes towards their biomedical applications.

Automated summary

MXenes have gained significant importance in various applications in the fields of energy, environment, and healthcare. Their tunable surface chemistry and nano-dimensional layered features make them a versatile material with improved multifunctional properties compared to other two-dimensional materials. This review focuses on the synthesis processes, characterizations, and antimicrobial properties of MXenes, and elucidates their mechanisms of action against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The future perspective of MXenes for biomedical applications is also discussed.