Applying CeO2 nanorods in flexible electrochemical immunosensor to detect C-reactive protein

In this work, we report the development of a flexible electrochemical immunosensor based on CeO2 nanorods (NRs) immobilized with C-reactive protein (CRP) antibody, a biomarker of cardiovascular disease. CeO2 NRs were obtained by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and characterized by XRD, TEM, and XPS. For the preparation of the working electrode, WE, of the immunosensor, the NRs were dispersed in organic solvent and then functionalized with cystamine and glutaraldehyde, and then modified with CRP antibody. The deposition condition was evaluated for electrode functionalization and immobilization. Functionalization and immobilization were verified by spectroscopic techniques and proved effective repeatability and reproducibility. The developed immunosensor had acceptable reproducibility (coefficient of variation = 4.5 %), allowed detection in the range of 0.3 to 7.0 mg L−1 of CRP with a detection limit of 0.18 mg L−1, and applications that are immediately detectable, easy-to-handle, low-cost and ideal for point-of-care.