Two-dimensional Ti(3)C(2)T(x) MXene promotes electrophysiological maturation of neural circuits

BACKGROUND: The ideal neural interface or scaffold for stem cell therapy shall have good biocompatibility promoting survival, maturation and integration of neural stem cells (NSCs) in targeted brain regions. The unique electrical, hydrophilic and surface-modifiable properties of Ti(3)C(2)T(x) MXene make it an attractive substrate, but little is known about how it interacts with NSCs during development and maturation. RESULTS: In this study, we cultured NSCs on Ti(3)C(2)T(x) MXene and examined its effects on morphological and electrophysiological properties of NSC-derived neurons. With a combination of immunostaining and patch-clamp recording, we found that Ti(3)C(2)T(x) MXene promotes NSCs differentiation and neurite growth, increases voltage-gated current of Ca(2+) but not Na(+) or K(+) in matured neurons, boosts their spiking without changing their passive membrane properties, and enhances synaptic transmission between them. CONCLUSIONS: These results expand our understanding of interaction between Ti(3)C(2)T(x) MXene and NSCs and provide a critical line of evidence for using Ti(3)C(2)T(x) MXene in neural interface or scaffold in stem cell therapy. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-022-01590-8.