Electrochemically assembled MXene/Ni hybrid interfaces for non-enzymatic glucose sensing: toward smart salivary diagnostics

With the rapid increase in diabetes patients worldwide, the research of non-invasive glucose sensors is of great importance in order to improve the life quality of patients. A novel non-enzymatic sensor based on MXene/Ni composite was developed via electrochemical deposition method and systematically evaluated for glucose sensing. The morphology, structure and electrochemical performance were confirmed using SEM, TEM, XPS, XRD, FTIR and electrochemical analysis. The sensor demonstrated excellent electrocatalytic activity towards glucose oxidation, as evidenced by its high sensitivity (up to 273.6 μA·mM⁻¹·cm⁻²), low detection limit (as low as 1 μM), and wide linear range (1–7507 μM). In addition, it exhibited great reproducibility, selectivity against common interfering species (e.g., AA, UA, DA), and operational stability over extended periods. Notably, real-time measurements of salivary glucose using a screen-printed MXene/Ni electrode closely mirrored blood glucose profiles obtained from commercial devices, highlighting its potential for non-invasive glucose monitoring. The tightly bonded Ni nanoparticles on MXene possesses excellent conductivity, high surface area, sufficient reactive sites and robust structural integrity. These results underscore the promise of MXene-based hybrid electrodes in the development of portable, cost-effective, and enzyme-free glucose sensors for personalized healthcare.