Abstract
A recent discovery of the unique biological properties of two-dimensional transition metal carbides (MXenes) resulted in intensive research on their application in various biotechnological areas, including polymeric nanocomposite systems. However, the true potential of MXene as an additive to bioactive natural porous composite structures has yet to be fully explored. Here, we report that the addition of 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene by reducing the porosity of the chitosan-hyaluronate matrix nanocomposite structures, stabilized by vitamin C, maintains their desired antibacterial properties. This was confirmed by micro computed tomography (micro-CT) visualization which enables insight into the porous structure of nanocomposites. It was also found that given large porosity of the nanocomposite a small amount of MXene (1–5 wt.%) was effective against gram-negative Escherichia coli, gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus sp. bacteria in a hydrogel system. Such an approach unequivocally advances the future design approaches of modern wound healing dressing materials with the addition of MXenes.
Highlights
Chitosan is a linear copolymer of β-(1–4) linked 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose and2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-glycopyranose
SEMand as expected, the freeze-dried 2D Ti3 C2 Tx MXene flakes have irregular shapes with differently oriented edges (Figure 2a) and characteristic for this material [24,50]. These can be subsequently redispersed into a nanocolloidal solution, characterized by a presence of the Tyndall effect (Figure 2b), thereby suggesting the formation of a homogeneous aqueous dispersion of Ti3 C2 Tx MXene [51]
The separated micron-sized 2D flakes are visible on high angle annular dark-field (HAADF) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images (Figure 2c) and confirmed by our previous studies [52]
Summary
It one of the most common natural polymers obtained by alkaline deacetylation of chitin, which occurs in the skeletons of various invertebrates, such as mollusks and arthropods. It is present in the cell wall of algae and fungi [1]. Chitosan is well-soluble and stable in an acidic environment, but insoluble in a neutral environment [2]. It is cationic which makes it unique among other polysaccharides and specific in the context of biological properties [3].
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