MXene incorporated core-shell microfibers with enhanced and tunable mechanical properties for biomedical applications Niyou Wang, Danilo Martins, Su Ryon Shin Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, USA The unique physical and chemical characteristics of MXenes have led to their extensive utilization in various biomedical domains. The MXenes have been reported to be used as a gelator in polymeric networks, which enables the improvement of the mechanical properties of the hydrogels through strong physical interaction with MXenes. The formulation of MXenes into hydrogels can significantly increase the stability of MXenes, which is often the limiting factor for many MXene-based applications. In this study, single-layer Mo-based MXenes were produced via the etching and delamination of the corresponding MAX phase. Hybrid core-shell fibers comprising varied concentrations of alginate, oxidized alginate (OA), and Mo-based MXenes were fabricated using wet spinning. Optimization of the flow rate of the syringe and the rotation speed of the water bath ensured the smooth production of these fibers. The core was made of 10 mg/mL gelatin; the shell was made of alginate, OA, Mo- based MXene at 11 different compositions (refer to the poster for details); the water bath contained 40 mg/mL CaCl2 solution. The study systematically assessed 11 different material compositions for the shell to determine the most ideal composition. The incorporation of MXene has been demonstrated to reduce the viscosity of solutions by decreasing the level of friction. Despite the addition of MXene, certain solutions, such as 30A30OA (30 mg/mL alginate & 30 mg/mL OA), retained a high level of viscosity, rendering the production of uniform fibers unfeasible. Out of 11 types tested, 20A20OA5M (20 mg/mL alginate & 20 mg/mL OA & 5 mg/mL MXene) fiber showed high stretchability and tensile strength, with good homogeneity. The inclusion of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials within the biocompatible hybrid fibers has the potential to substantially augment their mechanical properties. This enhancement presents novel prospects for a diverse range of biomedical applications. In general, the fibers produced exhibit significant potential in biomedical applications, specifically in the development of artificial nerves and muscle fibers. The next research stage involves incorporating cells within the fiber core to facilitate in vitro testing, followed by in vivo experiment.
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