Low Power NIR‐LED Actuated MXene‐Loaded Photothermally Active Nanofibers

MXenes are gaining popularity in biomedicine, energy storage, electronics, and environmental applications. When combined with electrospun polymers, their simple and large‐scale manufacturing potential makes them ideal for obtaining multifunctional, photothermally active hybrid nanofibers. Here, a combination of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, poly(L‐lactide‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) (PLCL) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), was used to fabricate nanofibers loaded with MXenes. Various weight ratios of MXene were incorporated into nanofibers, and the photothermal response of the resulting hybrid materials was studied using a low‐power NIR‐LED light source. Additionally, physicochemical properties of the nanofibers were studied to identify their fundamental properties, such as morphology, thermal, and surface characteristics. The incorporation of MXene enabled the nanofibers to function as highly efficient photothermal receptive materials. A direct correlation between photothermal activity and MXene concentration was observed. Significant photothermal activity, with a temperature difference of up to 20°C in heating performance, was demonstrated for nanofibers containing 10% of MXenes. The photothermal stability, demonstrated through multiple irradiation cycles, makes it an attractive, low‐cost, and low‐energy platform for biomedical purposes such as photothermal therapy.