The human immune system is central in the defense against pathogens but is also involved in autoimmune diseases. Inflammatory processes are orchestrated by biomolecules, including the inflammation marker C-reactive protein (CRP), for which fast point-of-care diagnostics are desired. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) exhibit fluorescence in the beneficial near-infrared (NIR) tissue-transparency window, making them ideal building blocks for biosensors. Here, we demonstrate that SWCNTs modified with certain phospholipids are highly sensitive sensors for CRP. We synthesize n-hexadecylphosphocholine (HPC)-modified SWCNTs (HPC-SWCNTs) (emission at 995 nm) and characterize their stability and sensitivity to CRP. In human serum samples, HPC-SWCNT sensors respond to CRP with a fluorescence change of up to 15 % within < 20 min and a detection limit of < 13 mg/L, which enables identification of inflammation above the base level. These nanosensors can be read out with a low-footprint point-of-care optical setup. Thus, we demonstrate fast CRP detection in serum using nanosensors with a high potential for integration into multiplexed diagnostic tools.
Derichsweiler et al. (Fri,) studied this question.