Abstract: Biocompatible polymer-coated transition metal chalcogenide (TMC) nanomaterials are provided herein. In particular, provided herein are two-dimensional polymer-coated TMC nanomaterials having excellent antimicrobial properties and biocompatibility, as well as methods of inhibiting microbiological growth on, or in, devices coated by or otherwise comprising the biocompatible polymer-coated transition metal chalcogenide (TMC) nanomaterials. In some cases, the biopolymer coating encapsulating the TMC nanomaterial comprises short synthetic single-stranded DNAs (ssDNAs). As described herein, ssDNA-encapsulated TMDCs exhibit no cytotoxicity against human cell lines at concentrations up to 0.25 mg/mL, but they exhibit exceptionally strong bactericidal activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli and a gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of producing metal diboride nanomaterials having thickness down to the atomic scale and lateral areas from 10 nm to over 1 ?m by preparing a mixture of a metal diboride and a suspending solution. The suspending solution can be an organic solvent or a solution containing water, and optionally can include a dispersion agent, such as a surfactant, a polymer, small molecule, or biopolymer. Further, the method includes exfoliating the metal diboride by exposing the mixture to ultrasonic energy, centrifuging the mixture forming supernatant that includes a dispersion of exfoliated metal diborides, and extracting the dispersion from the supernatant. Some embodiments include extracting the supernatant and casting the solution by diluting the dispersion with a second suspending solution that includes dissolved polymer. This can result in a composite film includes a dispersion of the exfoliated metal diborides and provides improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of producing metal diboride nanomaterials having thickness down to the atomic scale and lateral areas from 10 nm to over 1 ?m by preparing a mixture of a metal diboride and a suspending solution. The suspending solution can be an organic solvent or a solution containing water, and optionally can include a dispersion agent, such as a surfactant, a polymer, small molecule, or biopolymer. Further, the method includes exfoliating the metal diboride by exposing the mixture to ultrasonic energy, centrifuging the mixture forming supernatant that includes a dispersion of exfoliated metal diborides, and extracting the dispersion from the supernatant. Some embodiments include extracting the supernatant and casting the solution by diluting the dispersion with a second suspending solution that includes dissolved polymer. This can result in a composite film includes a dispersion of the exfoliated metal diborides and provides improved mechanical properties.