Recent developments in MXene and MXene/carbon composites for use in biomedical applications

MXene is a revolutionary two-dimensional material that has a distinct layer structure and the chemical composition of transition metal carbides. It has special physicochemical characteristics including a large specific surface area, good electrical conductivity, excellent mechanical properties and photothermal behavior, which give it a valuable variety of applications. To endow it a broader range of applications, it is often composited with carbon-based materials. Therefore, MXene and MXene/carbon composites have attracted much attention in applications such as electronics, biosensors and biomedicine over recent years. In this review, the fabrication, modification and biomedical applications of MXene and MXene/carbon composites are introduced, focussing on their biomedical applications, such as biosensors, antibacterial materials, drug delivery, and the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.