Gold-MXene Nanohybrids: synergistic platforms for advanced biosensing of key biomolecules

The synergistic integration of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with MXenes – two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides – marks a transformative advancement in biosensing, leveraging inorganic chemistry to enhance sensor performance. This review critically examines recent progress in synthesizing, characterizing, and functionalizing Au/MXene nanohybrids, offering new insights into their structural and electronic tunability for biosensing applications. We highlight their exceptional sensitivity and selectivity in detecting diverse analytes, such as nucleic acids (e.g. SARS-CoV-2 RNA, miRNA-21), proteins (e.g. carcinoembryonic antigen, exosomes), hormones (e.g. cortisol, estradiol), and glucose, across medical, environmental, and food safety domains. Novel developments, including scalable synthesis strategies and wearable sensor designs, underscore their potential in point-of-care diagnostics and real-time monitoring. Challenges in scalability, stability, and biocompatibility are discussed, alongside prospects for advancing inorganic nanomaterial-based biosensors, providing a focused perspective on their role in shaping next-generation sensing technologies.