MXenes for exosome detection: a new frontier in biomolecular analysis

Abstract

Exosomes, the small extracellular vesicles secreted by cells, hold immense potential as biomarkers for disease diagnosis, monitoring, and therapeutic development. MXenes and their composites have emerged as promising materials for exosome detection, showcasing remarkable attributes such as remarkable electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, large surface area, and tunable surface chemistry. These characteristics position MXenes as optimal candidates for biosensing applications, enabling the effective capture and analysis of exosomes, which are vital in cell communication and disease progression. However, significant challenges persist in the practical use of MXenes for exosome detection, notably pertaining to the reproducibility and stability of these materials in diverse biological environments. Furthermore, optimizing MXene functionalization for selectivity towards specific exosomes remains an ongoing task. Recent innovations, including hybrid MXene-based sensors integrated with nanomaterials and machine learning algorithms for data analysis, promise significant improvements in detection accuracy and real-time monitoring capabilities, paving the way for accessible point-of-care diagnostic devices. This review delves into the transformative applications of MXenes and their composites in exosome detection, emphasizing their unique properties that enhance biosensing capabilities. By showcasing recent advancements, current challenges, and future perspectives, it underscores how MXene-based (bio)sensors are poised to develop more accurate and early disease detection systems using exosomes.