Design of MXene-based composites for multimodal therapeutic applications

Multimodal therapeutic strategies that integrate photothermal therapy (PTT) with chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and sonodynamic therapy (SDT) have been shown to generate synergistic therapeutic effects in biomedical applications. These synergistic effects significantly enhance treatment efficacy and offer promising approaches for the treatment of serious diseases such as tumors and drug-resistant bacterial infections. This review systematically summarizes the underlying mechanisms and energy conversion processes in PTT, CDT, PDT, and SDT that are responsible for tumor cell ablation and bacterial eradication. In particular, the unique advantages of MXene materials in integrating these distinct therapeutic modalities are presented. On this basis, recent advances in various MXene-based composite materials for multimodal therapy are also comprehensively reviewed. The structural design strategies, synergistic functionalities and performance advantages of different composite systems are highlighted. Finally, the challenges and opportunities associated with MXene-based materials in multimodal therapeutic applications are discussed. These discussions provide guiding insights for the rational design of this emerging class of nanomedicines, offering potential strategies for treating tumors and drug-resistant bacterial infections. Schematic illustration of MXene-based composite systems and their integration with multiple therapeutic modalities, highlighting the structure–function relationships and synergistic mechanisms enabled by different composite architectures.