Capturing functional two-dimensional nanosheets from sandwich-structure vermiculite for cancer theranostics

Xiaoyuan Ji, Lanlan Ge, Chuang Liu, Zhongmin Tang, Yufen Xiao, Wei Chen, Zhouyue Lei, Wei Gao, Sara Blake, Diba De, Bingyang Shi, Xiaobing Zeng (), Na Kong (), Xingcai Zhang () and Wei Tao ()
Additional contact information
Xiaoyuan Ji: Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Lanlan Ge: Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University
Chuang Liu: Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Zhongmin Tang: Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Yufen Xiao: Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Wei Chen: Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Zhouyue Lei: Harvard University
Wei Gao: Harvard University
Sara Blake: Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Diba De: Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Bingyang Shi: Henan University
Xiaobing Zeng: Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University
Na Kong: Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Xingcai Zhang: Harvard University
Wei Tao: Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Abstract Clay-based nanomaterials, especially 2:1 aluminosilicates such as vermiculite, biotite, and illite, have demonstrated great potential in various fields. However, their characteristic sandwiched structures and the lack of effective methods to exfoliate two-dimensional (2D) functional core layers (FCLs) greatly limit their future applications. Herein, we present a universal wet-chemical exfoliation method based on alkali etching that can intelligently “capture” the ultrathin and biocompatible FCLs (MgO and Fe2O3) sandwiched between two identical tetrahedral layers (SiO2 and Al2O3) from vermiculite. Without the sandwich structures that shielded their active sites, the obtained FCL nanosheets (NSs) exhibit a tunable and appropriate electron band structure (with the bandgap decreased from 2.0 eV to 1.4 eV), a conductive band that increased from −0.4 eV to −0.6 eV, and excellent light response characteristics. The great properties of 2D FCL NSs endow them with exciting potential in diverse applications including energy, photocatalysis, and biomedical engineering. This study specifically highlights their application in cancer theranostics as an example, potentially serving as a prelude to future extensive studies of 2D FCL NSs.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21436-5

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