MXenes in electrochemical biosensors: From 2D platforms to clinical diagnostics

Abstract

The burgeoning demand for rapid, sensitive, and decentralized diagnostics particularly in point-of-care (PoC) and personalized healthcare has catalyzed the development of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials for next-generation electrochemical biosensing. Among these, MXenes (e.g., Ti3C2Tx) have emerged as a premier class of materials, owing to their metallic electrical conductivity, high surface-to-volume ratio, intrinsic hydrophilicity, and versatile surface chemistry. These synergistic properties facilitate the engineering of advanced sensor interfaces with superior charge-transfer kinetics and biocompatibility. This review systematically evaluates the state-of-the-art in MXene-based electrochemical biosensors for clinical diagnostics. We provide a comprehensive overview of MXene synthesis topographies, specialized surface functionalization strategies, and the rational design of MXene-integrated composites (incorporating noble metals, conducting polymers, and carbonaceous nanomaterials) to optimize analytical performance. A significant portion of this work is dedicated to the practical application of these platforms in physiological health monitoring, early-stage disease screening, and the trace detection of critical biomarkers, including cancer antigens, cardiovascular indicators, and neurotransmitters. Finally, we address the current bottlenecks in clinical translation and offer perspectives on the future commercialization of MXene-based electrochemical devices.