Lp. Zhou et Jf. Rusling, Detection of chemically induced DNA damage in layered films by catalytic square wave voltammetry using Ru(Bpy)(3)(2+), ANALYT CHEM, 73(20), 2001, pp. 4780-4786
A sensor constructed by alternate layer-by-layer adsorption of PDDA cations
and double-stranded (ds)-DNA on oxidized pyrolytic graphite electrodes was
evaluated for detection of chemical damage to ds-DNA from known damage age
nt styrene oxide. Films made with PDDA ions of structure (PDDA/DNA)(2) were
similar to6 nm thick and contained 0.23 mug of ds-DNA. Catalytic oxidation
using 50 muM RU(bPY)(3)(2+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) and square wave voltam
metry (SWV) provided more sensitive detection of DNA damage than direct SWV
oxidation. The catalytic peaks increased linearly with time during incubat
ions with styrene oxide, but only minor changes were detected during incuba
tion with nonreactive toluene. For best sensitivity, the outer layer of the
film must be ds-DNA, and analysis should be done at low salt concentration
. Studies of DNA and polynucleotides in solutions and films suggested that
oxidation of guanine and chemically damaged adenine in partly unraveled, da
maged DNA were the most likely contributors to the catalytic peak.