C-Reactive protein-directed immobilization of phosphocholine ligands on a solid surface

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Immunochemistry

Background:

• C-reactive protein (CRP) is a key biomarker for inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
• Current CRP detection methods often require specific antibodies, which can be costly and have limited stability.
• Developing alternative, cost-effective, and stable recognition elements for CRP is crucial for widespread diagnostic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) capable of specifically binding C-reactive protein (CRP).
• To evaluate the binding affinity of the developed MIP for CRP.
• To demonstrate the utility of the MIP in a sandwich immunoassay for quantifying CRP in human serum samples.

Main Methods:

• Polymerization of phosphocholine ligands complexed with CRP at the styrene-water interface to create MIPs.
• Binding affinity assessment of the MIP for CRP compared to anti-CRP antibodies.
• Development and validation of a MIP-based sandwich immunoassay for human serum CRP determination.

Main Results:

• The synthesized MIP successfully recognized and bound CRP.
• The CRP-binding affinity of the MIP was found to be comparable to that of immobilized anti-CRP antibodies.
• The MIP-based sandwich immunoassay demonstrated effective determination of CRP in human serum.

Conclusions:

• Molecularly imprinted polymers offer a promising antibody-free alternative for CRP recognition.
• The developed MIP-based immunoassay provides a sensitive and reliable method for CRP quantification.
• This approach has potential for developing robust and cost-effective diagnostic tools for inflammatory markers.