An overview on surface modification of niobium MXenes for diagnostic and prognostic applications

Fatal diseases like cancers, neurodegenerative, cardiac, pulmonary, and kidney diseases can be treated effectively if they are diagnosed at early stages. The diagnosis of these diseases can be carried out effectively using biomarkers that are released into the blood stream, sweat, and saliva due to various physiological processes. If these biomarkers can be detected when their concentrations in the body start to exhibit abnormal trends, processes to mitigate these abnormalities can be adopted. Additionally, the effect of treatment methodologies and the resultant prognosis of the disease can be analyzed if the levels of biomarkers can be correlated to the treatment methodology adopted. For carrying out the early-stage diagnosis and prognosis, sensors incorporating sensitive detection elements are required. Nb MXenes are a subclass of 2D transition metal carbides that have been receiving attention in this aspect. These MXenes possess superior properties like excellent electronic conductivity, electrochemical and photothermal stability, and biocompatibility that make them valuable as sensing elements in a wide variety of sensor paradigms like electrochemical, optical, electrical, and electronic sensors. This review discusses the synthesis of Nb MXenes, advantages of using Nb MXenes over other MXenes, and reviews the use of these materials as detection elements in sensors that were used to detect biomarkers holding diagnostic and prognostic significance. The review concludes with future perspectives in this area, which discusses avenues for development of Nb MXene based diagnostic and prognostics.