Electrochemical method for measuring C-reactive protein using crown ether--phosphate ester ionophores

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• C-reactive protein (CRP) is a key biomarker for inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
• Existing methods for CRP measurement can be complex, time-consuming, or require specialized equipment.
• Development of rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective CRP detection methods is crucial for clinical diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel electrochemical method for the sensitive detection of C-reactive protein (CRP).
• To synthesize and characterize new crown ether-phosphate ester ionophores with high affinity for CRP.
• To fabricate and evaluate the performance of CRP-sensitive polymer membrane electrodes.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of novel crown ether-phosphate ester ionophores.
• Characterization of ionophore-CRP binding using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
• Fabrication of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane electrodes incorporating the synthesized ionophores.
• Electrochemical measurement of CRP using the developed sensor.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized crown ether-phosphate ester ionophores exhibiting high affinity for CRP.
• Proton NMR studies confirmed stoichiometric binding of CRP to the ionophores.
• The developed PVC membrane electrodes demonstrated sensitivity to CRP in the microgram per milliliter range.
• Preliminary electrode characteristics indicate potential for quantitative CRP measurement.

Conclusions:

• A new and sensitive electrochemical method for CRP measurement has been established.
• The synthesized ionophores are effective recognition elements for CRP in electrochemical sensors.
• The developed sensor shows promise for practical applications in clinical diagnostics and disease monitoring.