MXene-Polymer Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

MXenes belong to the class of two-dimensional (2D) inorganic compounds in materials science. Such materials contain several layers of carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides of transition metals. Thickness of overlapping layers ranges from a single atom to a few atoms. MXenes compounds possess significant mechanical, tribological, thermal, and electrical properties; hence these materials are being incorporated into polymer matrix as reinforcements to get material with improved properties. The imperviable properties of MXenes compounds help to strengthen barrier characteristics of polymer composites in order to obstruct the diffusion of gases and small molecules. Polymer nanocomposites embedded with MXenes are known to have considerably enhanced barrier properties as compared to solo polymer. Recently, MXenes-based polymer nanocomposites have attracted the attention of biomedical scientist to explore the suitability and application aspects of such biomaterials in medical treatment. This chapter presents a comprehensive analysis on various properties of MXene compounds-based polymer nanocomposites developed by incorporating the MXene nano-reinforcements into a suitable polymer matrix targeted for therapeutic applications. However, the flexible electronics for sensor applications and advanced high-strength structures with additional functions have also been developed form MXene-polymer nanocomposites for a diverse utility.