Synchronous enhancement of antimicrobial and mechanical properties of natural rubber by MXene functionalized with SiO2

The development of natural rubber (NR) gloves with superior antibacterial and enhanced mechanical properties is critical for safeguarding healthcare personnel. In this study, Ti-based MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T x ) nanosheets were employed for the first time as an antibacterial agent to improve the antimicrobial performance of NR. Through SiO₂ intercalation via electronic assembly, the antibacterial efficacy of MXene was significantly boosted, achieving 100 % lethality against E. coli and 90.95 % against S. aureus . Mechanistic studies revealed that silica nanoparticles primarily enhanced MXene's ability to induce physical damage and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). The positively charged MXene-SiO₂ nanosheets were then incorporated into negatively charged natural latex to form NR nanocomposites with a hierarchical MXene structure. Compared to pristine NR, the nanocomposites exhibited 100 % lethality against E. coli and 74.72 % against S. aureus with the addition of just 0.5 phr MXene-SiO₂. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of NR were enhanced, with the modulus at 50 % and 100 % strain increasing by 22 % and 15 %, respectively, while elongation at break improved to 790 %. This work not only presents a novel approach for enhancing the antibacterial and mechanical properties of NR, but also deepens the understanding of MXene's antibacterial mechanism and its potential applications in healthcare materials.