Revised: January 13, 2014
Accepted: February 16, 2014
Published online: March 26, 2014
C-reactive protein (CRP) is one of the earliest proteins that appear in the blood circulation in most systemic inflammatory conditions and this is the reason for its significance, even after identification of many organ specific inflammatory markers which appear relatively late during the course of disease. Earlier methods of CRP detection were based on the classical methods of antigen-antibody interaction through precipitation and agglutination reactions. Later on, CRP based enzymatic assays came into the picture which were further modified by integration of an antigen-antibody detection system with surface plasma spectroscopy. Then came the time for the development of electrochemical biosensors where nanomaterials were used to make a highly sensitive and portable detection system based on silicon nanowire, metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor/bipolar junction transistor, ZnS nanoparticle, aptamer, field emission transmitter, vertical flow immunoassay etc. This editorial attempts to summarize developments in the field of CRP detection, with a special emphasis on biosensor technology. This would help in translating the latest development in CRP detection in the clinical diagnosis of inflammatory conditions at an early onset of the diseases.
Core tip: Over time, C-reactive protein (CRP) has emerged as a versatile marker for the detection of systemic inflammatory conditions, providing preliminary information to clinicians for continuing with a more specific diagnostic methodology. Advancements in electroanalytical chemistry and knowledge of nanomaterials have helped modern age researchers to miniaturize detection systems with an enhanced level of specificity and sensitivity of CRP detection. Further research should be directed in this area to devise a better diagnostic platform that can detect the change in CRP level at a very early stage of the onset of inflammatory conditions.