Ti3C2 MXene-enhanced Electrochemical Biosensors for Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Detection in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer ranks among the most prevalent malignancies affecting the male population globally, where its elevated mortality rate is frequently ascribed to the tardiness of diagnosis. Traditional diagnostic techniques, such as digital rectal examinations, are often associated with discomfort and may lead to postponements, as they conventionally necessitate further validation via biopsies and Gleason grading. Therefore, many efforts have been made to design new and widely used methods. This study investigates the design and implementation of electrochemical biosensors enhanced with Ti3C2 MXene for the accurate and sensitive quantification of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), an essential diagnostic marker indicative of prostate cancer. This biosensor was developed by modifying a carbon-based screen-printed electrode (SPCE) utilizing nanoparticles of gold (Au-NPs) and a Ti3C2 MXene layer, integrated with a Cd2+-binding aptamer (SPCE/Ti3C2MXene/Au-NPs/Cd2+-aptamer). The biosensor’s specificity for PSA was ensured through the immobilization of PSA-recognition aptamers on the Ti3C2 MXene/Au-NPs-enhanced SPCE surface. The Ti3C2 MXene layer was synthesized and examined with different characterization tools, like transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD), serving as a conductive support that helped integrate of the biological recognition element. The electrochemical signals generated from the Cd2+ complexed with the aptamer at the sensor interface allowed for quantitative assessment of PSA levels, revealing a detection range from 1.0 to 300 pg/mL and an impressive detection threshold as low as 8.0 fg/mL. This innovative biosensor exhibited excellent selectivity in detecting PSA among other biomarkers, highlighting its potential for clinical applications in prostate cancer diagnostics.