Sensing of C-Reactive Protein Using an Extended-Gate Field-Effect Transistor with a Tungsten Disulfide-Doped Peptide-Imprinted Conductive Polymer Coating.

Kai-Hsi Liu,Chien-Hsin Yang,Yen-Ting Chen,James L Thomas,Mei-Hwa Lee,Chen-Yuan Chen,Hung-Yin Lin,Chuen-Yau Chen

doi:10.3390/bios12010031

Abstract

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a non-specific biomarker of inflammation and may be associated with cardiovascular disease. In recent studies, systemic inflammatory responses have also been observed in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been developed to replace natural antibodies with polymeric materials that have low cost and high stability and could thus be suitable for use in a home-care system. In this work, a MIP-based electrochemical sensing system for measuring CRP was developed. Such a system can be integrated with microfluidics and electronics for lab-on-a-chip technology. MIP composition was optimized using various imprinting template (CRP peptide) concentrations. Tungsten disulfide (WS2) was doped into the MIPs. Doping not only enhances the electrochemical response accompanying the recognition of the template molecules but also raises the top of the sensing range from 1.0 pg/mL to 1.0 ng/mL of the imprinted peptide. The calibration curve of the WS2-doped peptide-imprinted polymer-coated electrodes in the extended-gate field-effect transistor platform was obtained and used for the measurement of CRP concentration in real human serum.

Highlights

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a ring-shaped pentameric protein that is found in blood plasma
Elevated serum levels of CRP are associated with inflammation and severe disease in bacterial or viral infections [1]
A systemic inflammatory response has been observed in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and 97.8% of patients with that disease have CRP concentrations above the normal range [1]

Summary

Introduction

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a ring-shaped pentameric protein that is found in blood plasma. Scheme usingusing a tungsten disulfide-doped peptide-imprinted conducconductive polymer-coated electrode in an extended-gate field-effect transistor. Cyclic voltammetry of the 1st and 20th polymerization cycles during the preparation of peptide-imprinted polymer electrodes with various concentrations of (c) peptides K or (d) 90 nm WS2 .

Results

Conclusion