Nanoscale Engineering of 2D Ti ₃ C ₂ MXenes with Improved Yield, Oxidation Protection, and Superior Physicochemical Characteristics

The rapid expansion of 2D Ti3C2 MXene research has transformed a wide spectrum of fields, including biomedical applications. 2D Ti3C2 nanosheets (NSs) have emerged as a promising candidate due to their unique combination of properties like near-infrared (NIR) absorption, excellent hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, size tunability, and surfaces enriched with reactive functional groups conducive to further chemical modification. However, using them effectively in biomedical applications requires precise nanoengineering while safeguarding their inherent properties. In this study, we present a concise and user-friendly strategy for the efficient nanoengineering of Ti3C2 MXene NSs. Building upon the conventional organic solvent-assisted intercalation and collection (OAIC) technique, we introduce a systematic optimization of key processing parameters coupled with the integration of an l-ascorbic acid-assisted size reduction step. This hybrid approach significantly enhances the delamination efficiency and structural uniformity of the final product. As a result, we achieved a remarkably high yield (∼76.3%) of Ti3C2 NSs, which represents a substantial improvement over most reported methods. The nanoengineered Ti3C2 NSs feature a desirable Z average (217.2 ± 9.4 nm), polydispersity index (PDI) value (0.21 ± 0.1), and highly negative zeta potential (−35.18 ± 0.2 mV). Further, the nanoengineered Ti3C2 NSs maintained considerable colloidal stability with a consistent PDI value (∼0.3) and Z average (below 500 nm) for almost more than a month in an aqueous environment. This study primarily focuses on the nanoscale engineering and physicochemical optimization of Ti3C2 NSs to establish a materials framework toward biomedical applications. The achieved oxidation stability, uniform size, and colloidal consistency provide essential prerequisites for their future biomedical applications.