Synthesis and applications of MXene-based materials in biosensors for screening infectious pathogens

Emerging as a hotspot of 2-dimensional (2D) materials in the last decade, MXenes have been exploited for wide applications, especially in the fields of biosensors for screening infectious pathogens. MXenes have numerous distinctive features such as large surface area, high conductivity, high catalytic activity, superior optical characteristics, high biocompatibility, diverse functional groups on the surface, and rich elemental composition which enable them to easily capture biorecognition elements, participate in biochemical and electrochemical reaction, and exhibit physicochemical properties. Therefore, MXenes can be considered as a promising material for fabricating numerous types of biosensors (e.g., electrochemical, colorimetric, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), photonic crystal-based, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biosensors) for screening infectious pathogens. Besides, there are abundant MXene synthesis and etching methods endowing MXenes the ability to be transformed into nanosheets, nanocomposites, and nanozymes. These materials are highly recommended for screening infectious pathogens. Thus, it is not surprising that a large number of scientific reports on MXenes-based biosensor for infectious pathogens detection. In this review, the latest research on the synthesis methods of MXenes and their applications in biosensors for infectious pathogens diagnosis are comprehensively assessed. [Display omitted]