On the rapid in situ oxidation of two-dimensional V2CTz MXene in culture cell media and their cytotoxicity

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2020.111431Get rights and content

Highlights

  • 2D nano-sheets of V2CTz MXene constantly oxidize in cell culture media.

  • Cytotoxicity of the V2CTz 2D flakes was directly related to their extent of oxidation in the cell culture.

  • Non-toxic V2CTz turns highly toxic when oxidized.

  • The decrease in cells' viabilities was dose, time, and oxidation dependent.

  • Mode of action refers to cell cycle, cellular membrane integrity.

Abstract

The plethora of emerging two-dimensional (2D) materials exhibit wide potential application in novel technologies and advanced devices. However, their stability in environmental conditions could be an issue, affecting their application possibilities and posing health risks. Moreover, their decomposed leftovers can also induce a negative influence on human health. In particular, transition metal carbides commonly referred to as MXenes are susceptible to environmental oxidation being decomposed toward transition metal oxides and carbide-derived carbon. In this study we focused on the oxidation-state-related in vitro cytotoxicity of delaminated V2CTz onto immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT) and malignant melanoma (A375) human cell lines. Due to the fact, that the V2CTx MXenes are least stable from all known obtained MXenes up to date, the vanadium ones were a practical choice to visualize the oxidation-cytotoxic correlation keeping the standards of 24–48 h of cell culturing. We found that the oxidation of V2CTz highly increases their cytotoxicity toward human cells, which is also time and dose dependent. The identified mode of action relates to the cell cycle as well as cellular membrane disintegration through direct physicochemical interactions.

Keywords

MXene
V2CTz
Cytotoxicity
Oxidation
Cell cycle
DNA synthesis
Cellular membrane integrity

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Agnieszka Jastrzębska obtained her Ph.D. (2012) and her D.Sc. (2019) from the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT). She was further appointed Professor of WUT at the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Ceramic and Polymer Materials. Her original work within 2012–2017 has had a defining influence on the field of nanoscience and technology in the area of bioactive nanomaterials and multifunctional hybrid nanocomposite systems including graphene. The current fields of interest comprise biomedical, environmental and catalytic applications of novel family of 2D materials called MXenes within emphasis given to their toxicological effects observed at relevant exposures.

Błażej Scheibe is M.Sc. Eng. Biotechnologist and M.Sc. Food Technologist from occupation. In 2013 he obtained his Ph.D. in Chemical Technology related from the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin (Poland). Currently, he is conducting research at NanoBioMedical Centre of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland) and since 2018 also a post-doctoral researcher at Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials of Palacký University in Olomouc (Czech Republic). The current fields of the interest are related to synthesis and modification of novel 2D structures, and their application in nanomedicine, biotechnology, sensors and energy storage systems.

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