Assessment of Mo2C@C@Fuc/Mo2C-MXene@Fuc hybrid structures: Potential for photothermal and photodynamic applications

MXenes, a member of the two-dimensional (2D) material family, and their hybrid structures have been the subject of considerable interest due to their unique properties, including a high surface area, chemical stability, and hydrophilicity. Due to their properties, application studies continue in medicine, biomedical, environment, and many other fields. MXenes are currently being utilized extensively in photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications, and they have attracted considerable interest due to their efficacy in this field. In this study, the synthesis of Mo2C@C@Fuc/Mo2C-MXene@Fuc hybrid structures was performed. The resulting hybrid structure was then coated with poly (allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and fucoidan (Fuc), respectively. The synthesized hybrid structure was characterized by techniques such as FE-SEM, XPS, and Zeta potential. The photothermal conversion capacity and photostability of Mo2C@C@Fuc/Mo2C-MXene@Fuc nanohybrids have been demonstrated through experimentation, which are essential characteristics for their potential use in PTT. Moreover, the photothermal conversion capacity was calculated based on the heating and cooling durations, whereas the singlet oxygen production efficiency was evaluated using the 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) fluorescent probe, which was also utilized as a PDT agent. These findings highlight the potential of Mo2C@C@Fuc/Mo2C-MXene@Fuc hybrid structures in photothermal therapy, particularly their efficacy in converting near-infrared radiation into therapeutic heat. Additionally, their potential for photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been demonstrated through ROS generation.