Electrochemical aptasensing platform based on nanolaminated MAB/MBene phases for the efficient detection of 11-deoxycortisol†

Abstract

Nanolaminated materials have attracted much attention because of their advantageous physicochemical properties. MXene-type materials have shown great promise in the field of biosensors. However, MBenes have not been extensively explored in this field. Therefore, herein, we compared the properties of nanolaminated MAB phases and ML (Multilayer) MBene, and these phases were used in the development of an electrochemical aptasensing platform. The microarray platform comprised two working carbon electrodes, which were modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The efficiency of ML MBene was compared with its parental MAB phase by modifying the electrodes. Owing to its better electrochemical results, MBene was further selected for application in an aptasensor. MBene/AuNPs/MWCNT-modified electrode was functionalized with an aptamer specific to the hormone 11-deoxycortisol (11-DCL). The resulting aptasensor showed an outstanding limit of detection of 0.014 pg mL⁻¹ for 11-DCL, in relation to the determination range of 0.01 to 100 pg mL⁻¹. In addition, the aptasensor showed excellent selectivity towards interfering agents and good applicability by validating the results of real serum samples.