Unravelling the Biomolecular Interactions Between Hemoglobin and 2D MXenes: A Breakthrough in Biomedical Approach

Taking the potential applications of two-dimensional transition metal carbides, such as MXenes, in biomedical fields, it is crucial to explore the impact of MXenes on various blood proteins. The study of the interaction of these 2D materials with proteins is scarce. Owing to the potential of absorbing proteins on the MXene surface, it is crucial to investigate the biocompatibility of these materials with proteins . In this regard, we successfully investigated the biomolecular interactions between hemoglobin (Hb) and single-layered titanium carbide (Ti₃C₂T<i>_x</i>-SL), multilayered titanium carbide (Ti₃C₂T<i>_x</i>-ML), and multilayered vanadium carbide (V₂CT_<i>x</i>-ML) MXenes for protein-MXene corona formation. The conformational, thermal, and colloidal stabilities of Hb were investigated after exposing MXenes to Hb for 30 min at Hb/MXene ratios of 12:1, 10:1, 8:1, and 6:1 using a combination of spectroscopic techniques, electron microscopy, and thermodynamic stability studies. Our results reveal that Hb adsorption onto MXene surfaces is primarily driven by electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding, leading to significant changes in the secondary and tertiary structures of the protein and further disruption in the colloidal stability of Hb. Explicitly, the hierarchy of interactions between Hb and MXenes follows the order: Ti₃C₂T<i>_x</i>-SL > V₂CT_<i>x</i>-ML > Ti₃C₂T<i>_x</i>-ML. The morphological study of Hb with MXenes was studied through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Further, it was found that at high loading concentrations that is above 8:1, the protein-corona formation tendency of Hb-MXene also increases. The biological and toxicological behavior of nanomaterials (NMs) is based on the effect of their interaction with proteins, which induces conformational changes in proteins and subsequently alters their biological functions. In this regard, this article provides important insights for using these MXenes biomedically and for the rational design of nanoproducts based on MXenes in the near future.