Electrochemical detection of iron in human blood plasma

Iron plays a significant role in various biological process. In normal physiological conditions, iron in blood, is present in a bound form to the protein transferrin and is nontoxic. However, in certain pathological conditions excess free iron is found in blood, unbound to protein transferrin. This form of iron is known as non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI). NTBI is very toxic, capable of generating highly reactive free radical species responsible for oxidative damage to various organs of the body. NTBI is a potential diagnostic indicator to assess the iron status of patients at-risk. To date there is no direct method available to measure NTBI levels and excess iron is diagnosed indirectly by determining haematological clinical tests, which often underestimate free toxic iron levels and are inaccurate. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a standardised universally accepted assay method, suitable for translation into pathology laboratories. This project aims to develop an electrochemical method for accurate and rapid detection of NTBI in human blood plasma.

Electrochemical techniques are advantageous due to their low cost, high speed and simplicity. The proposed new electrochemical method will have a huge impact on current clinical practice. If effective, this breakthrough will be significant in the diagnosis and validation of treatment regimens for iron overload conditions that require regular blood transfusions and in other miscellaneous disease conditions affected by NTBI. The proposed method has the potential to be developed as a ‘compact testing kit’, which can be translated from bench to diagnostic pathology laboratories, to be used as a routine assay for NTBI measurement improving expected outcomes through diagnosis, treatment selection and monitoring. This research into developing a diagnostic method will benefit patients in New Zealand and worldwide, and perfectly aligns with our research goals of improving the health and quality of life.