Facile fabrication, photothermal efficiency, ophthalmic biosafety assessment and antibacterial activity of 2D MXene Ti2CTx nanosheets.

• The MXene Ti 2 CT x NSs have a broadband UV–vis-NIR absorption range. • The MXene Ti 2 CT x NSs display excellent photothermal performance in the ophthalmic cells. • The MXene Ti 2 CT x NSs exhibit excellent biocompatibility and biosafety in the ophthalmology environment. • The in vitro antibacterial activity exhibits that the MXene Ti 2 CT x NSs have exceptional antibacterial activity. In recent years, MXenes have drawn extensive interest in many fields due to their unique features. Herein, 2D MXene Ti 2 CT x nanosheets (NSs) are successfully fabricated which not only display highly photothermal efficiency, but exhibit excellent biocompatibility and impressive biosafety in the ophthalmic environment. Moreover, the as-fabricated Ti 2 CT x NSs present superior antibacterial activity against two common pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli and Streptococcus mutans), which can be further enhanced under NIR light due to excellent photothermal conversion of Ti 2 CT x NSs. Moreover, the excellent stability for the Ti 2 CT x NSs holds great promises in the practical ophthalmic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]