MXene-based functional nanomaterials and their applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy

MXenes are a class of novel two-dimensional nanomaterials that stand out in cancer therapy due to their high remarkable conductivity, specific surface area, strong near-infrared absorption, and preferable biocompatibility. These properties offer significant advantages in cancer therapy. Particularly when surface-modified or functionalized, MXenes demonstrate enhanced targeting capabilities and stronger cytotoxic effects on tumor tissues, showing great potential for non-invasive cancer treatment. Additionally, functional MXenes exhibit unique optical and electrical properties, offering significant potential for biological imaging and biosensing applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of various strategies for the surface modification and functionalization of MXenes and summarizes the latest advancements in multifunctional cancer treatment platforms based on functional MXenes, covering early cancer diagnosis and various therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, this review highlights the advantages and challenges associated with the use of functional MXenes in cancer therapy and offers insights into their potential future development. • The various strategies for surface modification and functionalization of MXenes are summarized. • MXenes-based cancer diagnosis: fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, MRI, CT and biosensors. • MXenes-based cancer therapy: PTT, PDT, sonodynamic therapy and others. • The advantages and challenges of functional MXenes in cancer diagnosis and therapy are discussed.