Flexible and conductive MXene/silver nanowire films for enhanced detection and elimination of bacteria

Abstract

With the aggravation of bacterial infections, sensitive detection and effective elimination materials are extensively essential to overcoming bacterial threats. Herein, a sensing and treating bio-platform was constructed by using MXene and silver nanowires (AgNWs) wrapped carbon fiber films (CMA). AgNWs with high aspect ratios were synthesized and then modified with MXene films via self-assembly to serve as the bio-platform. Due to the synergistic effect of conductive networks and surface chemistry, this bio-platform enabled the electrochemical detection of S. aureus in the range of 2 × 10²–2 × 10⁷ CFU per mL with a low detection limit of 0.35 CFU per mL, followed by high sensitivity, reproducibility, and reliability in real samples. Furthermore, this synergistic bio-platform exhibited a highly effective elimination rate of 99.45% against S. aureus and 99.8% against E. coli, respectively. This strategy demonstrates a facile approach to simultaneously enhancing bacterial identification and antibacterial performance.