Ti 3 C 2 Nanosheets Functionalized with Ferritin-Biomimetic Platinum Nanoparticles for Electrochemical Biosensors of Nitrite.

Nitrites widely exist in human life and the natural environment, but excessive contents of nitrites will result in adverse effects on the environment and human health; hence, sensitive and stable nitrite detection systems are needed. In this study, we report the synthesis of Ti ₃ C ₂ nanosheets functionalized with apoferritin (ApoF)-biomimetic platinum (Pt) nanoparticle (Pt@ApoF/Ti ₃ C ₂ ) composite materials, which were formed by using ApoF as a template and protein-inspired biomineralization. The formed nanohybrid exhibits excellent electrochemical sensing performance towards nitrite (NaNO ₂ ). Specifically, the Pt@ApoF catalyzes the conversion of nitrites into nitrates, converting the chemical signal into an electrical signal. The prepared Pt@ApoF/Ti ₃ C ₂ -based electrochemical NaNO ₂ biosensors demonstrate a wide detection range of 0.001-9 mM with a low detection limit of 0.425 μM. Additionally, the biosensors possess high selectivity and sensitivity while maintaining a relatively stable electrochemical sensing performance within 7 days, enabling the monitoring of NaNO ₂ in complex environments. The successful preparation of the Pt@ApoF/Ti ₃ C ₂ nanohybrid materials provides a new approach for constructing efficient electrochemical biosensors, offering a simple and rapid method for detecting NaNO ₂ in complex environments.