Electrochemical evaluation of anti-CRP/CRP interaction for the molecular diagnosis of the cardiovascular risk

Background The C-reactive protein (CRP or PTX1) is an acute phase protein, expressed by hepatocytes, that is regarded as a clinical marker for infection and has been increasingly used as a risk indicator in chronic inflammatory diseases [1]. Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease that remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Its progression is associated with the accumulation of lipoproteins in the endothelium, establishing plaques whose rupture may result in the formation of a thrombus, arising several cardiovascular complications [2]. Studies show there is a correlation between the risk of cardiac events (such as myocardial infarction) and increasing levels of CRP [3]. Currently, there are several methods to detect CRP, including immunoassays and agglutination. However, these methods are not sensitive enough, time-consuming or cost-ineffective [4]. Therefore, new diagnosis methods are being developed. Electrochemical biosensors are small devices that combine the selectivity of biochemical molecular recognition with the sensitivity of electrode transducers, being remarkable for their sspecificity, speed, portability and low cost [5]. In this work, a graphite electrode surface is modified with poly (3-aminotiophenol) and a specific antibody (anti-CRP), aiming the detection of its antigen (CRP), through electrochemical methods.