Do MXene nanosheets possess intrinsic antibacterial activity?

A systematic study of high-quality Ti-, V-, and Nb-based MXenes reveals negligible inherent antimicrobial effects while highlighting their strong potential for targeted photothermal antibacterial therapy. A recently published in ACS Applied Nanomaterials Journal scientific article presents the results of a major international research collaboration aimed at redefining the role of MXene nanomaterials in antibacterial applications. The study brings together leading scientists from the University of Latvia, Carbon-Ukraine (Y-Carbon MXene manufacturer), Drexel University, Sumy State University, NanocarbonTech Poland, CSD Lab, NBMC Adam Mickiewicz University, and the Materials Research Center.

By combining expertise across academia and industry, the consortium conducted a comprehensive evaluation of MXene nanosheets, challenging long-standing assumptions about their intrinsic antibacterial properties and demonstrating their strong potential for advanced, targeted photothermal antibacterial therapies. The work represents an important step toward the development of next-generation antimicrobial technologies, particularly for localized treatments and drug-resistant infections. This publication highlights the power of international cooperation in advancing nanomaterials research from fundamental science to practical biomedical solutions.

Rethinking MXenes in Antibacterial Applications: From Intrinsic Effects to Smart Photothermal Therapies

MXenes are a rapidly growing family of two-dimensional nanomaterials that have attracted significant attention in recent years, particularly in the field of biomedicine. They are widely recognized for their excellent biocompatibility, chemical tunability, and unique physical properties. Among their many proposed applications, MXenes have frequently been reported as promising antibacterial agents. However, this apparent combination of high biocompatibility and strong antibacterial activity raises an important scientific question: can a material be both harmless to human cells and inherently toxic to bacteria?

Do MXenes Have Intrinsic Antibacterial Properties?

To address this contradiction, a comprehensive study was carried out using high-quality, pristine MXene nanosheets, including Ti₃C₂Tₓ, Nb₂CTₓ, V₂CTₓ, and Ti₃CNTₓ, with carefully controlled flake sizes. These materials were thoroughly characterized using high-resolution structural and chemical analysis to ensure minimal oxidation and the absence of residual etching byproducts.

The antibacterial activity of these MXenes was evaluated using a wide range of in vitro assays, such as disk diffusion tests, broth microdilution, time-kill kinetics, reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis, and electron microscopy. In addition, their performance was tested in an in vivo wound model.

The results were clear: at biologically relevant, non-toxic concentrations, pristine MXenes showed no significant intrinsic antibacterial effects. Neither of the two commonly proposed mechanisms—ROS-mediated damage or mechanical membrane disruption (often referred to as the “nano-knife” effect)—could be confirmed.

Why Did Earlier Studies Report Antibacterial Effects? The findings suggest that many previously reported antibacterial effects of MXenes were likely caused not by the MXene materials themselves, but by extrinsic factors, such as: incomplete removal of etching residues (e.g., HF, AlF₃), fluorine-rich surface terminations, structural defects, or partial oxidation of MXene nanosheets.

When these factors are eliminated and truly pristine MXenes are used, the materials remain highly biocompatible—but do not act as direct bactericides.

MXenes as Platforms for Photothermal Antibacterial Therapy

Although pristine MXenes lack intrinsic antibacterial activity, the study highlights a powerful alternative approach: MXene-assisted photothermal therapy (PTT).

MXenes, particularly Ti₃C₂Tₓ, exhibit exceptional photothermal properties. Under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation, MXene nanosheets efficiently convert light into heat, enabling rapid and localized bacterial ablation. In laboratory experiments, this approach led to complete bacterial eradication. Importantly, the strategy was successfully translated to an in vivo rat wound model, where it significantly accelerated wound healing.

Even more striking results were achieved using antibody-functionalized MXene nanosheets, which allowed targeted photothermal therapy. This enabled selective elimination of Escherichia coli while leaving non-target bacteria unaffected—demonstrating precise, controllable antibacterial action.

A New Role for MXenes in Antimicrobial Technologies

These findings redefine the role of MXenes in antimicrobial applications. Rather than serving as passive, intrinsic antibacterial materials, MXenes should be viewed as versatile, biocompatible platforms that can be externally activated to combat infections. MXene-assisted photothermal therapy offers several key advantages:

on-demand and spatially confined antibacterial action,

reduced damage to surrounding healthy tissues,

effectiveness against multidrug-resistant bacteria,

compatibility with targeted and personalized treatment strategies.

This work lays the foundation for next-generation MXene-based antibacterial technologies, particularly for localized wound management and difficult-to-treat infections. Future research will focus on optimizing MXene formulations for clinical use, including advanced surface functionalization, delivery systems, and integration with real-time imaging and monitoring tools.

In summary, while pristine MXenes are not intrinsic antibacterial agents, their combination of biocompatibility, tunability, and photothermal responsiveness positions them as powerful candidates for smart, externally triggered antimicrobial therapies.

Our teams are grateful for the financial support provided for this research by the Horizon Europe MSCA-2021-SE-01 project MX-MAP (Grant No. 101086184), as well as by the ERA-NET projects AntiMicroMXene and ERA4Health project TERMEX.

Read the full text: Korniienko, V., Gogotsi, O., Varava, Y., Zandersone, B., Deineka, V., Husak, Y., Diedkova, K., Solodovnyk, O., Kukurika, V., Dukhnovskiy, S., Moskalenko, R., Baginskiy, I., Petrichenko, O., Sulaieva, O., Haidamak, O., Shubin, P., Zahorodna, V., Anastaziak, B., Coy, E., Iatsunskyi, I., Gogotsi, Y., & Pogorielov, M. (2026). Critical assessment of intrinsic antibacterial properties and photothermal therapy potential of MXene nanosheets. ACS Applied Nano Materials. DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.5c04961

Related articles on MXenes for biomedical applications:

 Engineering Safer MXenes for Biomedical Applications: Effects of Etching and Delamination on Biocompatibility of Ti-Based MXenes

 MXenes for biomedical applications: MXene-Polydopamine-antiCEACAM1 Antibody Complex as a Strategy for Targeted Ablation of Melanoma 

Together with colleagues from the University of Latvia, MRC/Carbone Ukraine, Adam Mickiewicz University, University Clinic Essen, and others, we have developed a novel concept involving the binding of antibodies to MXenes. In our research, we utilized anti-CEACAM1 antibodies to develop targeted photo-thermal therapy for melanoma (in vitro), paving the way for future in vivo studies and clinical trials. For the first time, we demonstrate the feasibility of delivering MXenes specifically targeted to melanoma cells, enabling the effective ablation of cancer cells under near-infrared (NIR) light. This new technique opens up vast potential for the application of MXenes in cancer treatment, diagnostics, drug delivery, and many other medical purposes.

 Elucidation of Potential Genotoxicity of MXenes Using a DNA Comet Assay