Surface-modified Ti₃C₂ MXene nanosheets for mesenchymal stem cell osteogenic differentiation via photothermal conversion

In the field of bone tissue engineering, the practical application of growth factors is limited by various factors such as systemic toxicity, instability, and the potential to induce inflammation. To circumvent these limitations, the use of physical signals, such as thermal stimulation, to regulate stem cells has been proposed as a promising alternative. The present study aims to investigate the potential of the two-dimensional nanomaterial Ti3C2 MXene, which exhibits unique photothermal properties, to induce osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) via photothermal conversion. Surface modification of Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets with PVP (Ti3C2-PVP) was employed to enhance their colloidal stability in physiological solutions. Characterization and cellular experiments showed that Ti3C2-PVP nanosheets have favorable photothermal properties and biocompatibility. Our study demonstrated that the induction of photothermal stimulation by co-culturing Ti3C2-PVP nanosheets with BMSCs and subsequent irradiation with 808 nm NIR significantly promoted cell proliferation, adhesion and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that Ti3C2-PVP is a promising material for bone tissue engineering applications as it can modulate the cellular functions of BMSCs through photothermal conversion.