Engineered Ni Fe LDH-anchored titanium carbide nanohybrid for ultra-sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of levofloxacin in environmental and biological samples

The widespread use of levofloxacin (LEV), a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, has raised serious environmental and health concerns due to its persistence and potential to induce antimicrobial resistance, necessitating sensitive and reliable monitoring methods. In this study, a novel nickel–iron layered double hydroxide/titanium carbide (Ni Fe LDH/TiC) composite was successfully synthesized via combined solvothermal and sonochemical strategies. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the uniform anchoring of Ni Fe LDH nanoplates on TiC sheets, providing enhanced active surface sites and improved electron transfer. The electrochemical performance of the fabricated Ni Fe LDH/TiC-modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), demonstrating excellent electrocatalytic activity toward LEV detection. The developed sensor exhibited a low detection limit of 6 nM, a wide linear detection range, high sensitivity, and good reproducibility (RSD = 2.6%). Selectivity studies confirmed minimal interference from common coexisting species. Furthermore, the sensor demonstrated excellent practical applicability for detecting LEV in real biological and environmental samples with satisfactory recovery results. Owing to its simple fabrication, high stability, and superior sensitivity, the proposed Ni Fe LDH/TiC/SPCE sensing platform shows strong potential for clinical diagnostics and environmental antibiotic monitoring. • Ni Fe LDH/TiC fabricated via solvothermal–sonochemical strategy. • SPCE platform enables ultrasensitive electrochemical LEV detection. • Dual linear calibration ranges achieved with 6 nM detection limit. • Sensor validated in serum, urine, and environmental water samples.