Photothеrmal Еffеct of TI3C2TX Mxеnеs with A Pulsеd Lasеr in Vitro

Yanko I.*, Husak Ye.*,***,  Roshchupkin A.*, Ekpe Onyinyechi Peace*, Balitskyi V.**,  Burduli D.**, Baginskyi I.**, Zahorodna V.**, Maksym Pogorielov*, Oleksiy Gogotsi**, Sergiy Kyrylenko*
*Medical Institute of Sumy State University, Sumy, Ukraine
**Materials Research Center, Carbon-Ukraine (Y-Carbon ltd.), Kyiv, Ukraine
*** Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland

Toufik’s Medical Journal
Volume 1, Supplement 1, November 2021
Abstract from Biomedical Perspectives III 

Introduction. MXеnes are a large family of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides and nitrides. MXenes exhibit strong absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region, including wavelengths that are in the range of NIR biological windows (650 to 1350 nm), and possess a high photothermal conversion efficiency. Consequently, they show good potential for development of anti-cancer treatment via a Photothermal therapy (PTT) approach.

Aim: We aimed at investigating conditions for the TI3C2TX MXеnes to show selective photothermal effect with a pulsed laser with cultured cells in-vitro.

Materials and methods. CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cells were grown in 96- well plates at various densities and incubated for 24 hr with MXenes at various non-toxic concentrations. A pulse laser at 1064 nm was used. Cell viability was evaluated by optical microscopy and resazurin reduction assay.

Results: We established concentrations of MXenes and doses of irradiation which efficiently killed cultured cells loaded with MXenes while leaving the control cells unaffected. The effect depended on the concentration of MXenes and on the cell density. Intriguingly, the moderately affected cells maintained their metabolic activity immediately after irradiation, while losing it after overnight incubation. We postulated that such treatment induced apoptosis, which was executed during hours after treatment. We also noticed that excessive laser treatment instantly “fixed” the cells, rendering them looking like if they were still normal under microscopic investigation while they were not metabolically active (dead). 

Conclusions. Irradiation with the pulsed laser at 1064 nm can be used for development of PTT protocols.

Acknowledgments: This work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (grant 0120U101972); National Research Fund of Ukraine (2020.02/0223); H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (NanoSurf 777926, CanBioSe 778157, NANO2DAY 77810, SALSETH 872370); Jean Monnet 599989-EPP-1-2018-1UA-EPPJMO-MODULE.