Detection of C‐Reactive Protein by Electrochemiluminescence‐Based Droplet‐Free Digital Immunoassay with Tyramide Signal Amplification

C‐reactive protein (CRP) is a widely used biomarker for monitoring inflammatory processes and assessing disease progression in various conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, infections, and autoimmune disorders. In this study, a simplified droplet‐free digital enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system is developed based on electrochemiluminescence (ECL) imaging for the sensitive detection of CRP. This system eliminates the need for droplet or microwell arrays, significantly simplifying the workflow while maintaining high sensitivity. Tyramide signal amplification was employed to enhance signal generation, relying on its localized reaction to achieve precise single‐particle amplification with minimal signal diffusion. The developed assay is capable of detecting poly‐horseradish peroidase at concentrations as low as 1.0 fmol L −1 and successfully adhered to the Poisson distribution model for digital quantification. The application of this system to CRP detection yields a limit of detection of 17.0 pg mL −1 (162 fmol L −1 ). The ECL bead ratio increases proportionally with CRP concentration, enabling accurate quantification. Moreover, the system exhibits high specificity, showing no response to other biomolecules and maintaining precise detection even in complex biological samples such as human serum. This study highlights the potential of the droplet‐free digital ELISA system for clinical diagnostics and the detection of low‐abundance biomarkers.

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Publication Details

Journal
ChemElectroChem
Published
2025-04-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202500024
Primary Topic
Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Detection of C‐Reactive Protein by Electrochemiluminescence‐Based Droplet‐Free Digital Immunoassay with Tyramide Signal Amplification

Hiroya Abe, Kosuke Ino, Sho Nakamura, Hitoshi Shiku et al.
ChemElectroChem
Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
article

Detection of C‐Reactive Protein by Electrochemiluminescence‐Based Droplet‐Free Digital Immunoassay with Tyramide Signal Amplification

Hiroya Abe, Kosuke Ino, Sho Nakamura, Hitoshi Shiku, Kentaro Ito, Kumi Y. Inoue, Shinichi Sato, Zhengyi Liu
article en

Abstract

C‐reactive protein (CRP) is a widely used biomarker for monitoring inflammatory processes and assessing disease progression in various conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, infections, and autoimmune disorders. In this study, a simplified droplet‐free digital enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system is developed based on electrochemiluminescence (ECL) imaging for the sensitive detection of CRP. This system eliminates the need for droplet or microwell arrays, significantly simplifying the workflow while maintaining high sensitivity. Tyramide signal amplification was employed to enhance signal generation, relying on its localized reaction to achieve precise single‐particle amplification with minimal signal diffusion. The developed assay is capable of detecting poly‐horseradish peroidase at concentrations as low as 1.0 fmol L −1 and successfully adhered to the Poisson distribution model for digital quantification. The application of this system to CRP detection yields a limit of detection of 17.0 pg mL −1 (162 fmol L −1 ). The ECL bead ratio increases proportionally with CRP concentration, enabling accurate quantification. Moreover, the system exhibits high specificity, showing no response to other biomolecules and maintaining precise detection even in complex biological samples such as human serum. This study highlights the potential of the droplet‐free digital ELISA system for clinical diagnostics and the detection of low‐abundance biomarkers.

ChemElectroChemVol. 12(12)
Tohoku University (JP), University of Yamanashi (JP)
Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Japan Science and Technology Corporation, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan Science and Technology Agency, ACT-X, Moonshot Research and Development Program
Openalex Percentile: Top 94%
Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
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