Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of the photochemical properties and photothermal conversion capacities of Mo₂CTx-MXene@Fuc nanohybrids

Studies on synthesizing MXene hybrid materials continue in medicine, biomedicine, the environment, electronics, and many other fields. MXenes are very remarkable materials for diagnosis, treatment, and theranostic applications in oncology with their hydrophilic structure, large surface area, and biocompatibility. In this study, MAX phase and Mo2CTx MXene syntheses were first carried out and characterized by XRD and HR-TEM. Then, PAH and fucoidan were coated on the MXene surface, respectively, and characterized by FE-SEM, XPS, and Zeta potential methods. Experiments on Mo2CTx-MXene@Fuc nanohybrids have identified their photothermal conversion capacity and photostability, which are crucial for photothermal therapy applications. After calibration of laser devices at 808 and 1064 nm, the nanohybrids' response to laser exposure was monitored, with temperature changes recorded via a thermal camera. Additionally, the photothermal conversion capacity was deduced from heating and cooling durations, while singlet oxygen production efficiency was evaluated using the 1,3-Diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) fluorescent probe. These findings underscore the potential of Mo2CTx-MXene@Fuc nanomaterials in photothermal therapy, particularly their efficiency in converting NIR radiation into therapeutic heat.