Cutting-Edge Applications of Titanium Dioxide in Biosensors

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂)-based nanocomposites have attracted increasing attention as functional materials for biosensor applications due to their high surface area, biocompatibility, photocatalytic activity, and electron transfer capabilities. These features significantly enhance the sensitivity, specificity, and stability of biosensors across various platforms. This review presents a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in TiO₂-based biosensors, with a focus on three major detection strategies: electrochemical, optical, and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) methods. In the electrochemical domain, TiO₂ nanomaterials have been used to develop sensors capable of detecting analytes such as acrylamide with high sensitivity and fast response times. Optical techniques, including surface plasmon resonance (SPR), have used TiO₂ nanostructures to improve detection of cancer biomarkers such as hepatocellular carcinoma antigens. ECL-based systems utilizing TiO₂ composites show enhanced emission intensity and low detection limits due to improved electron transport properties. Furthermore, the integration of TiO₂ with other nanomaterials—such as silver nanoparticles, graphene quantum dots, and titanium-based hybrids—has led to multifunctional sensing platforms with superior analytical performance. This review also discusses the role of TiO₂ in detecting clinically relevant targets, including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), highlighting its utility in early diagnosis, food safety, and environmental monitoring. TiO₂ nanomaterials offer strong potential for next-generation biosensors and point-of-care diagnostic devices due to their versatility, performance, and cost-effectiveness.