Ionic liquid-delaminated TiC MXene nanosheets for enhanced electrocatalytic oxidation of tryptophane in normal and breast cancer serum.

A cost-effective strategy is reported utilizing ionic liquid (IL), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bisulfate ([HMIM] HSO), to delaminate TiC MXene, thereby enhancing its efficiency in electrocatalyzing tryptophan (Trp) oxidation. The positively charged IL effectively intercalates within the negatively charged MXene layers, fostering structural stability through π-π stacking and electrostatic interactions. Consequently, the resulting IL-TiC composite not only maintained the inherent electronic conductivity of TiC but also significantly augmented its electrocatalytic prowess. The IL-TiC/GCE sensor highlighted performances, featuring wide dynamic range (0.005 to 1 µM and 1 to 300 µM), low detection limit (0.1 nM), high reproducibility, excellent anti-interference performance, and long-term stability. The exceptional abilities of the IL-TiC nanocatalyst make it as a very promising electrode material for achieving precise Trp detection in serum samples from both healthy individuals and breast cancer patients, yielding satisfactory result that underscore its potential for clinical applications.