Two-dimensional (2D) Transition Metal Carbides/Nitrides (MXenes) and Transition Metal Borides (MBenes) as Emerging Functional Materials for Electrochemical Detection of Food Contaminants

Canan Yagmur Karakas; Ozum Ozoglu; Sema Nur Yildirim; Osman Sagdic; Sebahattin Gurmen; Enes Dertli; Aytekin Uzunoglu

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.148620

Two-dimensional (2D) Transition Metal Carbides/Nitrides (MXenes) and Transition Metal Borides (MBenes) as Emerging Functional Materials for Electrochemical Detection of Food Contaminants

Food Chem. 2026 May 1:510:148620. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.148620. Epub 2026 Feb 26.

Authors

Canan Yagmur Karakas¹, Ozum Ozoglu², Sema Nur Yildirim³, Osman Sagdic¹, Sebahattin Gurmen⁴, Enes Dertli³, Aytekin Uzunoglu⁵

Affiliations

¹ Food Engineering Department, Chemical, and Metallurgical Engineering Faculty, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Türkiye.
² Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Türkiye.
³ Food Engineering Department, Chemical, and Metallurgical Engineering Faculty, İstanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Türkiye.
⁴ Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Chemical, and Metallurgical Engineering Faculty, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Türkiye.
⁵ Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Chemical, and Metallurgical Engineering Faculty, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Türkiye. Electronic address: auzunoglu@itu.edu.tr.

PMID: 41791146
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.148620

Abstract

Food safety is a major global challenge, driven by population growth, industrial food production, and rising public health concerns. Contaminants such as pathogen microorganisms, heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, and antibiotic residues require rapid, sensitive, and reliable detection strategies. Electrochemical biosensors have emerged as efficient alternatives to conventional analytical methods due to their simplicity, low cost, and suitability for real-time monitoring. Two-dimensional (2D) materials, particularly MXenes and MBenes, have shown great promise in enhancing sensor performance. MXenes, composed of 2D transition metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides, exhibit tunable surface terminations and high electrical conductivity, whereas MBenes (2D transition metal borides) offer superior oxidation stability and chemical robustness. This review outlines recent advances in the synthesis, structural tailoring, and application of MXene- and MBene-based electrochemical (bio)sensors for food safety monitoring, emphasizing their advantages, limitations, and future perspectives for practical implementation.

Keywords: 2-dimensional materials; MBenes; MXenes; biosensors; food safety.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biosensing Techniques* / instrumentation
Biosensing Techniques* / methods
Electrochemical Techniques* / instrumentation
Electrochemical Techniques* / methods
Food Contamination* / analysis
Food Safety
Transition Elements* / chemistry

Substances

Transition Elements