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

Abstract
A new electrochemical method for measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) is presented. We have synthesized new crown ether-phosphate ester ionophores having high affinity for CRP. A study using proton nuclear magnetic resonance shows CRP binding to the ionophores in stoichiometric amounts. The incorporation of these crown ether-phosphate ester ionophores into poly(vinyl chloride) membrane electrodes yields a CRP-sensitive electrode with sensitivity in the microgram per milliliter range. The ionophore synthesis and preliminary electrode characteristics are described.