Recent Advances in Two-Dimensional MXene-Based Electrochemical Biosensors for Sweat Analysis

Abstract

Sweat, a biofluid secreted naturally from the eccrine glands of the human body, is rich in several electrolytes, metabolites, biomolecules, and even xenobiotics that enter the body through other means. Recent studies indicate a high correlation between the analytes’ concentrations in the sweat and the blood, opening up sweat as a medium for disease diagnosis and other general health monitoring applications. However, low concentration of analytes in sweat is a significant limitation, requiring high-performing sensors for this application. Electrochemical sensors, due to their high sensitivity, low cost, and miniaturization, play a crucial role in realizing the potential of sweat as a key sensing medium. MXenes, recently developed anisotropic two-dimensional atomic-layered nanomaterials composed of early transition metal carbides or nitrides, are currently being explored as a material of choice for electrochemical sensors. Their large surface area, tunable electrical properties, excellent mechanical strength, good dispersibility, and biocompatibility make them attractive for bio-electrochemical sensing platforms. This review presents the recent progress made in MXene-based bio-electrochemical sensors such as wearable, implantable, and microfluidic sensors and their applications in disease diagnosis and developing point-of-care sensing platforms. Finally, the paper discusses the challenges and limitations of MXenes as a material of choice in bio-electrochemical sensors and future perspectives on this exciting material for sweat-sensing applications.

Recent advances using MXenes in biomedical applications

“…The large surface area, tunable electrical properties, excellent mechanical strength, good dispersibility, and biocompatibility of MXenes make them attractive for bio-electrochemical sensing platforms. 100 Kalambate et al reviewed the progress of electrochemical (bio) sensors for the detection of biomarkers, pharmaceutical drugs, and environmental contaminants, including how the synthetic strategies and surface functionalization affect various properties of MXenes. 101 Many other excellent recent reviews of MXene-based sensors are also available, 102–111 and this work provides updates through 2023.…”

Not Only Graphene Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials: Recent Trends in Electrochemical (Bio)sensing Area for Biomedical and Healthcare Applications

“…The critical analytical parameters of electrochemical (bio)sensors, such as sensitivity, selectivity, and stability, are mainly controlled by the design of the sensing interface and platform. Different electrochemical techniques are generally involved, such as amperometry (A), chronoamperometry (CA), cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), square-wave voltammetry (SWV), chronocoulometry (CC), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) [ 38 , 39 ], and their applicability has been improved with the introduction of new functional materials such as 2D nanomaterials [ 13 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ]. Several examples of electrochemical (bio)sensors for clinical analysis and healthcare using 2D nanomaterials such as MXenes, TMDs, MOFs, and COFs are reported and discussed below.…”

Development of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Electrochemical Sensors for Strawberry Sweetness Biomarker Detection

“…MIPs, or plastic antibodies, exhibit affinity similar to that of biological antibodies, facilitating selective and enhanced detection of the target molecules. Owing to their high specificity and stability, MIPs have been extensively utilized in various sensor platforms, such as surface plasmon resonance for real-time monitoring, chemiresistive gas sensors for detecting VOCs, and electrochemical biosensors for sensitive and selective analyte detection . In addition to their high specificity and stability, MIPs offer several advantages including ease of synthesis, low cost, and reusability.…”