Bandgap‐Engineered Germanene Nanosheets as an Efficient Photodynamic Agent for Cancer Therapy

• DOI: 10.1002/ange.202215795
• Publication Date: 2023-01-10T03:44:46Z
• Authors: Min Ge; Haiyan Guo; Ming Zong; Zhixin Chen; Zhuang Liu; Han Lin; Jianlin Shi
• Keywords: Germanene; Cancer Therapy

Abstract Two‐dimensional (2D) monoelemental materials (Xenes) show considerable potential in bioapplications owing to their unique 2D physicochemical features and the favored biosafety resulting from composition. However, narrow band gaps of Xenes prevent broad applications biosensors, bioimaging phototherapeutics. In this study, it is demonstrated that germanene terminated with −H via surface chemical engineering, shows a much broadened direct gap 1.65 eV, which enables material be used as novel inorganic photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy singlet oxygen. Through theoretical analysis vitro studies, H‐germanene nanosheets demonstrate substantially enlarged favorable biodegradability, demonstrating substantial cancer treatment capacity. This study demonstrates feasibility constructing therapeutic agents by covalent engineering catalytic tumor therapy.