Fig 2: (a) Optical and (b) photothermal images, and (c) T/C values of detection for 60 µL of PBS and 10% FBS, 60 µL 1 µg mL-1 of CEA, PSA, IL-2 and CRP respectively by using the immunochromatographic strip.

Fig 3: MSU crystals specifically purify CRP (a) 200 µl of serum of a single donor with 1.5 µg/ml CRP (Serum1.5) with or without addition of 10 µg/ml purified CRP, a pool serum with 0.3 µg/ml CRP (pSerum0.3) with 10 µg/ml purified CRP added, a single donor serum with 10.4 µg/ml CRP (Serum10.4) and HBSS 10%BSA with 10 µg/ml purified CRP added, were incubated with 3 mg zymosan, 5 mg MSU (lot 1) or 35 µl PC-agarose for 45 min at 37 °C. Samples were centrifuged and the supernatants were analyzed for CRP and total protein concentration. Using a one-sample t-test, the p-value of MSU samples compared to 50% of CRP concentration of the corresponding zymosan sample was calculated. For the difference of total protein in zymosan or MSU treated samples a paired t-test was used. (b) The concentration of IgM, C3c and albumin was analyzed in samples from a by turbidimetry. (c) For the indicated CRP-containing solutions the experiment was repeated in the presence of 5 mM EDTA and the supernatants were analyzed for CRP and total protein concentration. (d) 200 µl of pool serum containing 20 µg/ml purified CRP was incubated with nothing, three distinct preparations of MSU (5 mg each) or 35 µl PC-agarose for 45 min at 37 °C, washed 1x with HBSS for 5 min and then eluted with 5 mM EDTA in HBSS. Supernatants of each step were analyzed for CRP and albumin concentration by turbidimetry. (e) 100 µl of a serum containing 30 µg/ml CRP was incubated with 9 mg MSU or 35 µl PC-agarose for 45 min at 37 °C. MSU/PC-agarose was washed 5x in HBSS, and CRP was eluted by HBSS + 5 mM EDTA. Eluted proteins were applied to SDS-PAGE and proteins were visualized by coomassie staining. Uncropped image of the gel is shown in Fig. S3 (right gel). Each experiment was repeated at least once with similar results.

Fig 4: Co-localization of CRP and C3 on opsonized MSU crystals. (a) Confocal microscopy of MSU crystals (lot 1), which were incubated for 30 min at 37 °C with human serum (CRP 0.3 µg/ml) with or without addition of 40 µg/ml purified CRP, washed extensively and stained with rabbit anti-CRP plus anti rabbit AF568 (red) and mouse anti-C3/C3b plus anti mouse AF488 (green). DIC = digital interference contrast; scale-bar = 40 µm. (b) MSU crystals lot 2 were incubated in human serum (CRP 0.6 µg/ml) with or without addition of 40 µg/ml purified CRP, stained and microscopically detected as in a.

Fig 5: (a) Optical and photothermal images, and (b) T/C values of CRP detection with different amounts of GNR-dAb. (c) Optical and photothermal images, and (d) T/C values of CRP detection with different amounts of the sample volume.