MXene-based aptasensors: Advances, challenges, and prospects

The combination of 2D MXenes with high affinity aptamers has resulted in the development of innovative aptasensing approaches for food/water safety and clinical diagnosis. Aptamers have quite a number of benefits over conventional methods as unique molecular recognition components for versatile bio-sensing devices. Recent breakthroughs in the concept, development, and bio-sensing applications of various MXene-based aptasensors have been discussed in this study. The authors address sensing platforms for the identification of several types of cancers, mycotoxins, and other analytes. More emphasis has been placed on aptamer conjugation with various MXenes, sensor fabrication methodologies, and biosensing mechanisms. We observed that optical aptasensing applications are in their infancy when compared to electrochemical MXene based aptasensors. As a result, we attempted to forecast revolutionary developments in MXenes that may contribute to their integration into emerging optical aptasensors such as fluorescence, photoluminescence, surface-enhanced Raman Scattering, colorimetric, and Surface Plasmon Resonance. Finally, potential constraints and future prospects have been highlighted. This study is expected to help readers understand the fabrication of MXene-based aptasensors and their concomitant sensing mechanisms, hence encouraging the development of flexible MXene-based aptasensors.