A Decade of Borophene Nanosheets in Biomedicine: Breakthroughs and Bottlenecks

Borophene, a recently emerging monoelemental nanomaterial, has attracted significant attention because of its exceptional physicochemical properties and application-oriented potential. With characteristics comparable to those of graphene, borophene is increasingly being considered as a potential alternative in multiple domains. In biomedicine, boron is an essential micronutrient with superior mechanical flexibility, making it a promising nanomaterial for biosensing, bioelectronics, therapeutics, and diagnostics. Over the past decade, the number of borophene-related publications has risen sharply, with a marked increase in studies focused on biomedical applications since 2020, underscoring the rapidly growing translational interest. Nevertheless, progress toward in vivo and translational applications remains hindered by synthesis challenges, especially the difficulty of producing high-yield, reproducible nanosheets. Herein, we comprehensively review the emerging biomedical applications of borophene while outlining key challenges and opportunities for its future clinical translation with a concise overview of borophene’s properties and fabrication strategies. Emphasis has been placed on preclinical safety, toxicity, prospects, and challenges that remain critical for translational relevance. In addition, recent advances in borophene engineering, including hybridization and heteroatom doping approaches to tailor its properties for biomedical applications, are discussed. By integrating the publication trends in borophene-based biomedical research over the past decade, this review delineates the evolving biomedical trajectory of borophene and highlights its potential as an emerging 2D Xene platform for translational medicine.