Editorial: Engineered 2D nanomaterial based diagnostic platforms for human disease detection

Outlook of this Research Topic

Infectious diseases, such as HIV, Malaria, and tuberculosis, are viewed as a global health threat and are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Patients with these infectious diseases are also prone to comorbid non-infectious diseases, such as diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cancer, making health management even more complex, especially in resource-limited regions. Diabetes, a non-communicable metabolic disorder, has been rising at an alarming rate globally, with an estimated 537 million adults living with the disease. This increasing prevalence of DM, particularly in regions heavily burdened by TB, Malaria, and HIV, has created an epidemiological synergy, complicating control efforts. It is clear that early detection and surveillance are critical to preserve and prolong healthy living for both humans and animals. This requires diagnostic tools that are efficient and accessible for continuous monitoring. Biosensor technology has emerged as a desirable analytical tool due to its ability to provide rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective diagnostics. It is capable of detecting specific biomarkers, leading to enhanced specificity and selectivity and providing insight into the presence, stage, and aggressiveness of the disease. These biomarkers can be found in a variety of biofluids, such as blood, saliva, urine, and breath, offering minimally invasive diagnostic potential. Diagnosis using biosensors can be viewed as a confirmatory and continuous assessment of disease, opening new avenues for predictive diagnosis of comorbidities over time. Biosensing can be carried out using electrochemical, optical, or lateral flow platforms. The analytical response of these platforms can be induced by the utilization of nanomaterials with varying particle size, morphology, surface chemistry, and so on. These nanomaterials are classified based on their dimensions, composition, and origin. They provide diverse properties, which can be fine-tuned for specific disease monitoring. 2D and 3D materials afford tunable optical, electrochemical, and adsorption capabilities, which are essential for the development of versatile point-of-care diagnostic devices. Thus, this Research Topic collection evaluates the potential of 2D Nanomaterial-based Diagnostic Platforms for Human Disease Detection by detailing the structural-property performance of 2D nanomaterials and their nanocomposites for the detection of infectious and non-communicable diseases.

This Research Topic consists of four articles that focus on the evaluation of near-infrared, electrochemical, and wearable sensors as transducers that convert biological reactions into analytical signals. It also provides an overview of the incorporation of 2D nanomaterials, such as Mxenes and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), with other nanomaterials such as cellulose and Ag nanoparticles to enhance the analytical signals of these sensors, allowing them to detect diseases in various fluids. This Research Topic also shows the importance of precisely controlling properties such as particle size, surface chemistry, and morphology to ensure strong interactions and reactions with the disease biomarkers.

The first article focuses on the synthesis of emerging nanomaterials, recently discovered in 2011 at Drexel University. Since then, the scientific community has shown interest in finding innovative synthesis methods to further improve their properties. The article highlights synthesis methods such as the exfoliation technique, which relies on direct hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching. Efforts to replace the utilization of HF have been employed through the synthesis of Mxenes with molten salts as the etchant, along with acidic and alkaline treatments and electrochemical etching. The study also evaluates synthesis routes for the formation of Mxene-based nanocomposites to expand their applications in healthcare sectors. The synergy between Mxene and cellulose-produced nanocomposites is demonstrated, with self-healing, antibacterial properties, and real-time sensing functionalities. A second article explores the possible application of Mxenes as sensing materials for glucose and lactate detection. The performance of these Mxene-based sensors requires high conductivity, which has led to the incorporation of other metal, metal oxide, and carbon-based nanomaterials. This has also led to better biocompatibility, allowing the detection of glucose in fluids such as saliva and sweat, making them suitable for use in wearable and skin-based monitoring devices.

Other materials such as MoS₂ are evaluated in the third article in this Research Topic, which focuses on the development of MoS₂-Ag nanocomposites, which were formulated into conductive ink for fabricating MoS₂ sensors. The sensors were tested with dopamine, a neurotransmitter, showing exceptionally high performance and the ability to be used in biomedical and clinical applications. The final study focuses on the utilization of other types of sensors, known as near-infrared (NIR) sensors, as an alternative for the detection of TB in both humans and animals. These sensors can discriminate between various TB strains using non-invasive samples. Hence, they can easily be incorporated into portable diagnostic devices for use in field surveys and epidemiological investigations, as they provide fresh data.

The Research Topic also highlights the challenges of scaling up nanomaterials. An integration of modeling studies for the precise control of properties, plant designs, and surface engineering should be considered to unlock the full potential of Mxenes in next-generation healthcare technologies. Additionally, the lack of nanotoxicity regulatory frameworks, especially in developing countries where health service delivery is scarce, is a hindrance that delays the market entry of nanodiagnostics. The scientific community, government structures, and funding agencies should be informed of this issue to provide proper regulation of nano-enabled diagnostics and translate the research into commercial products. This will also contribute to homegrown innovations that address regional health management issues and enable the rapid detection of diseases.

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Footnotes

Edited and reviewed by: Vincenzo Guidi, University of Ferrara, Italy