In situ electrochemical and AFM study of thalidomide–DNA interaction

The interaction of thalidomide (TD) with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) was studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM) at highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at glassy carbon electrodes (GCE), UV–Vis and electrophoresis. After incubation of dsDNA with different concentrations of TD, the AFM images show the formation of thin and incomplete TD–DNA network films with a number of embedded molecular aggregates and regions of uncovered HOPG. Both the TD–dsDNA aggregates and network thickness directly depended on the TD concentration and incubation time. The voltammetric data also showed that the modifications caused by TD to the DNA double helical structure are time-dependent. In agreement with AFM, DPV, UV–Vis and electrophoresis results, a model is proposed for the TD–DNA interaction, considering that TD intercalates into the dsDNA, causing defects in the dsDNA secondary structure and DNA double helix unwinding. Moreover, both AFM and DPV show that condensation is caused to DNA by TD and occurs until 24 h of incubation, as well as DNA oxidative damage, detected electrochemically by the appearance of the 8-oxoGua and/or 2,8 oxoAde oxidation peak.     

Direct Electrochemistry of Hemoglobin at Silver Electrode Modified by Lipoic Acid Monolayer

Abstract

The direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin (Hb) was studied by cyclic voltammetry(CV) and flow injection analysis(FIA) on a silver electrode modified by a self-assembled monolayer of lipoic acid(LA). Lipoic acid molecules can strongly adsorb onto the Ag electrode surface through the cleavage of the S-H bond and the formation of the Ag-S bond. The observed adsorption coverage of LA demonstrates that the LA molecules spontaneously form a self-assembled monolayer. Experimental data show that LA can promote the redox process of Hb at the modified electrode surface. This chemically modified electrode (CME) exhibits good stability in the CV and FIA. Linear sweep voltammetric measurement of Hb at the CME reveals a linear relationship between the oxidative peak current and the concentration of Hb in the range of 5.0×10^?7-1.5×10^?5 mol/L. The relative standard derivation (RSD) for six replicate measurements of 5.0×10^?6 mol/L Hb in FIA is 2.8%. The detection limit is 2.0×10^?7 mol/L. The reaction mechanism involves the hydrogen bond/ salt bridge formation between the carboxylate of LA and the protonated lysine residues of Hb that can enhance the electron transfer reaction. It can be used to detect Hb in real examples.     

In situ evaluation of anticancer drug methotrexate-DNA interaction using a DNA-electrochemical biosensor and AFM characterization

An in situ evaluation of the dsDNA-methotrexate (MTX) interaction was performed by voltammetry using a DNA-electrochemical biosensor and characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) at a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface. Electrochemical experiments in incubated solutions showed that the interaction of MTX with dsDNA leads to modifications to the dsDNA structure in a time-dependent manner. The AFM images show reorganization of the DNA self-assembled network on the surface of the HOPG electrode upon binding methotrexate and the formation of a more densely packed and slightly thicker MTX-dsDNA lattice with a large number of aggregates embedded into the network film. The intercalation of MTX between complementary base pairs of dsDNA lead to the increase of purine oxidation peaks due to the unwinding of the dsDNA. The dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor and the purinic homo-polynucleotide single stranded sequences of guanosine and adenosine, poly[G] and poly[A]-electrochemical biosensors, were used to investigate and understand the interaction between MTX and dsDNA.     

Effect of pH and applied potential on the adsorption of DNA on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite electrodes. Atomic force microscopy surface characterisation

Single-stranded and double-stranded DNA electrochemical biosensors prepared by adsorption during 3 min on HOPG, with or without an applied potential, at pH 5.3 and 7.0, were characterised by MAC mode AFM. During adsorption DNA condenses on the substrate forming complex network films with pores exposing the HOPG surface. The thin films formed in pH 5.3 acetate buffer always presented a better coverage of the HOPG surface with DNA molecules than films formed in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer. The application of a positive potential of 300 mV during adsorption enhanced the robustness and stability of the DNA films with the formation of bigger network holes and a more condensed and compact self-assembled DNA lattice. The knowledge of the morphology of adsorbed DNA on electrode surfaces explains non-specific adsorption on the electrode surface and can be used to improve and develop DNA-electrochemical biosensors.     

DNA imaged on a HOPG electrode surface by AFM with controlled potential

Single-molecule AFM imaging of single-stranded and double-stranded DNA molecules self-assembled from solution onto a HOPG electrode surface is reported. The interaction of DNA with the hydrophobic surface induced DNA aggregation, overlapping, intra- and intermolecular interactions. Controlling the electrode potential and using the phase images as a control method, to confirm the correct topographical characterization, offers the possibility to enlarge the capability of AFM imaging of DNA immobilized onto conducting substrates, such as HOPG. The application of a potential of +300 mV (versus AgQRE) to the HOPG enhanced the robustness and stability of the adsorbed DNA molecules, increasing the electrostatic interaction between the positively charged electrode surface and the negatively charged DNA sugar-phosphate backbone.     

Atomic force microscopy characterization of an electrochemical DNA-biosensor

Electrode surface characteristics represent an important aspect on the construction of sensitive DNA electrochemical biosensors for rapid detection of DNA interaction and damage. Two different immobilization procedures of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) at the surface of a HOPG electrode were evaluated by MAC mode AFM performed in air. A thin dsDNA adsorbed film forming a network structure with holes exposing the electrode surface and a thick dsDNA film completely covering the electrode surface, presenting a much rougher structure, were investigated. The DNA surface characteristics and structure are discussed with respect to the degree of surface coverage.     

Microdetermination of double-stranded DNA by linear sweep voltammetry with phenosafranine.

A novel voltammetric method for the determination of microamounts of fish sperm double-stranded (ds) DNA based on its interaction with phenosafranine (PSF) is proposed in this paper. In a pH 3.5 Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer solution, PSF had a well-defined second-order derivative linear-sweep voltammetric reductive peak at -0.32 V (vs. SCE) on a mercury electrode. After the addition of dsDNA into the PSF solution, the reductive peak current decreased significantly without a shift of the peak potential, and no new peak appeared. The experiment results showed that a new supramolecular complex was formed after the interaction of dsDNA with PSF, which resulted in a decrease of the diffusion coefficient, and then a decrease of the reductive peak current. The interaction conditions and the electrochemical detection conditions were carefully investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the decrease of the peak current was proportional to the dsDNA concentration in the range 1.0 - 40.0 microg/mL with the linear regression equation DeltaI(p)'(nA) = 32.59C(microg/mL) - 4.03 (n = 13, gamma = 0.998) and a detection limit of 0.25 microg/mL (3 sigma). The interaction mechanism was considered based on the aggregation of the dsDNA-PSF supramolecular complex; the stoichiometry of this supramolecular complex was calculated based on voltammetric data with a binding number of 3 and a binding constant of 2.76 x 10(12). This method was successfully applied to the determination of synthetic samples and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product of the nopaline synthase gene (NOS) DNA from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) with satisfactory results.     

AFM imaging of adsorbed Nafion polymer on mica and graphite at molecular level

Perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer (PFSA, specifically Nafion at EW = 975 g/mol) was visualized at the single molecule level using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in liquid. The diluted commercial Nafion dispersion shows an apparent M(w) = 1430 kg/mol and M(w)/M(n) = 3.81, which is assigned to chain aggregation. PFSA aggregates, imaged on mica and HOPG during adsorption from EtOH-H(2)O solvent at pH(e) 3.0 (below isoelectric point), showed a stable, segmented rod-like conformation. This structure is consistent with earlier NMR, SAXS/SANS, and TEM results that support a stiff helical Nafion conformation with long persistence length, a sharp solvent-polymer interface, and an extension of the sulfonated side chain into solution. Adsorption of Nafion structures on HOPG was observed at even higher pH(e) from EtOH due to screening of the repulsive electrostatic interaction in lower dielectric constant solvent, while the chain adopted an expanded coil conformation. These measurements provided direct evidence of the chain aggregation in EtOH-H(2)O solution and revealed their equilibrium conformations for adsorption on two model surfaces, highly ordered pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) and mica. The commercial Nafion dispersion was autoclaved at 0.10% w/w in nPrOH/H(2)O = 4:1 v/v solvent at 230 °C for 6 h to give a single-chain dispersion with M(w) = 310 kg/mol and M(w)/M(n) = 1.60. The autoclaved chains adopt an electrostatically stabilized compact globule conformation as observed by AFM imaging of the single PFSA molecules after rapid deposition on mica and HOPG at a low surface coverage.     

Morphology of platinum electrodeposits in the three-dimensional sublayer to full layer range produced under different potential modulations on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

The topography of platinum electrodes produced by electrodeposition (19 to 200 mC cm-2) on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) under different potential modulations was investigated by atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and H-atom electrosorption voltammetry. To modulate electrodeposition, (i) triangular potential cycling at 0.1 V s-1, (ii) a linear cathodic potential at 0.1 V s-1 and anodic potential step cycling, and (iii) square wave potential cycling at 5000 Hz were utilized. AFM and STM imaging showed that at lower platinum loading the HOPG surface was partially covered by a 3D sublayer of platinum. Electrodes produced by procedure (i) were made of faceted platinum aggregates of about 200 nm and nanoclusters in the range of 5-20 nm; those that resulted from procedure (ii) consisted of anisotropic aggregates of nanoclusters arranged as quasi-parallel domains. These electrodes from (i) and (ii) behaved as fractal objects. The electrodes resulting from procedure (iii) exhibited a flat surface that behaved as a Euclidean object. For all WEs, as the platinum loading was increased the HOPG surface was fully covered by a thin 3D layer of platinum aggregates produced by electrodeposition and coalescence phenomena. Large platinum loading led to electrodes with fractal geometry. Statistical parameters (root-mean-square height, skewedness, kurtosis, anisotropy, Abbot curve, number of protrusions and valleys, and fractal dimension) were obtained from the analysis of AFM and STM imaging data. Platinum electrodeposition coupled to either H-adatom formation for procedures (i) and (ii) or phonon dispersion for (iii) was involved in the surface atom rearrangements related to electrofaceting. The H-adatom electrosorption voltammetry data were used to evaluate the real electrode surface area via the voltammetric charge and to advance a tentative explanation of the contribution of the different crystallographic facets to the global electrochemical process dominated by weak H-Pt adsorption interactions.     

Kinetics and dynamics in physisorption of CH3Cl on HOPG: surface temperature and molecular orientation dependence

We report a study of kinetics and dynamics in physisorption of CH(3)Cl on a highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Thermal energy atom scattering (TEAS) was used to probe the kinetics of thermal CH(3)Cl adsorption on HOPG during the coverage evolution. The desorption energy of CH(3)Cl on HOPG changes from 0.25 to 0.30 eV with increasing surface coverage, suggesting the attractive interaction between CH(3)Cl molecules on the surface. On the other hand, the oriented molecular beam scattering was used to monitor the dynamical interaction of CH(3)Cl with HOPG at zero coverage, demonstrating that the CH(3)Cl scattering intensity depends on the molecular orientation of the incident CH(3)Cl. The observed steric preference is not sensitive to the surface temperature. These results suggest that the moderate anisotropy in the interaction potential induces the molecular-orientation dependence of energy dissipation during the transient trapping into the physisorption well.     

The role of mineral surface chemistry in modified dextrin adsorption

The adsorption of two modified dextrins (phenyl succinate dextrin--PS Dextrin; styrene oxide dextrin--SO Dextrin) on four different mineral surfaces has been studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging, and captive bubble contact angle measurements. The four surfaces include highly orientated pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), freshly cleaved synthetic sphalerite (ZnS), and two surfaces produced through surface reactions of sphalerite: one oxidized in alkaline solution (pH 9, 1 h immersion); and one subjected to metal ion exchange between copper and zinc (i.e. copper activation: exposed to 1×10(-3) M CuSO(4) solution for 1 h). XPS measurements indicate that the different sphalerite surfaces contain varying amounts of sulfur, zinc, oxygen, and copper, producing substrates for polymer adsorption with a range of possible binding sites. AFM imaging has shown that the two polymers adsorb to a similar extent on HOPG, and that the two polymers display very different propensities for adsorption on the three sphalerite surface types, with freshly cleaved sphalerite encouraging the least adsorption, and copper activated and oxidized sphalerite encouraging significantly more adsorption. Contact angle measurements of the four surfaces indicate that synthetic sphalerite has a low contact angle upon fracture, and that oxidation on the timescale of one hour substantially alters the hydrophobicity. HOPG and copper-activated sphalerite were the most hydrophobic, as expected due to the carbon and di/poly-sulfide rich surfaces of the two samples, respectively. SO Dextrin is seen to have a significant impact on the wettability of HOPG and the surface reacted sphalerite samples, highlighting the difficulty in selectively separating sphalerite from carbonaceous unwanted minerals in flotation. PS Dextrin has the least effect on the hydrophobicity of the reacted sphalerite surfaces, whilst still significantly increasing the wettability of graphite, and thus has more potential for use as a polymer depressant in this separation.     

A novel sensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor for assaying of anticancer drug leuprolide and its adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination

The anticancer drug, leuprolide (LPR) bound to double-stranded fish sperm DNA (dsDNA) which was immobilized onto the surface of an anodically activated pencil graphite electrode (PGE), was employed for designing a sensitive biosensor. The interaction of leuprolide (LPR) with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) immobilized onto pencil graphite electrode (PGE) have been studied by electrochemical methods. The mechanism of the interaction was investigated and confirmed by differential pulse voltammetry using two different interaction methods; at the PGE surface and in the solution phase. The decrease in the guanine oxidation peak current was used as an indicator for the interaction in acetate buffer at pH 4.80. The response was optimized with respect to accumulation time, potential, drug concentration, and reproducibility for both interaction methods. The linear response was obtained in the range of 0.20-6.00 ppm LPR concentration with a detection limit of 0.06 ppm on DNA modified PGE and between 0.20 and 1.00 ppm concentration range with detection limit of 0.04 ppm for interaction in solution phase method. LPR showed an irreversible oxidation behavior at all investigated pH values on a bare PGE. Differential pulse adsorptive stripping (AdSDPV) voltammetric method was developed for the determination of LPR. Under these conditions, the current showed a linear dependence with concentration within a range of 0.005-0.20 ppm with a detection limit of 0.0014 ppm. Each determination method was fully validated and applied for the analysis of LPR in its pharmaceutical dosage form.     

Voltammetric DNA Biosensor Based on a Microcrystalline Natural Graphite–Polystyrene Composite Transducer

New voltammetric DNA biosensor based on a microcrystalline natural graphite–polystyrene composite film in the role of a transducer was used for the investigation of the interaction between model carcinogenic substance (2-aminofluorene; one of the most extensively studied examples of the aromatic amine class of carcinogens) and calf thymus double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). The layer of dsDNA immobilized at the electrode surface was utilized as a biocomponent responsive interface. The biosensor was characterized regarding the detection of DNA damage (induced by direct interaction with 2-aminofluorene) using square wave voltammetric responses of the guanine and adenine moieties and cyclic voltammetric responses of the anionic redox indicator [Fe(CN)₆]^4–/3– present in the solution.     

Electrochemical study of the interaction between dsDNA and copper(I) using carbon paste and hanging mercury drop electrode

The interaction of copper(I) with double-stranded (ds) calf thymus DNA was studied in solution and at the electrode surface by means of transfer voltammetry using a carbon paste electrode (CPE) as working electrode in 0.2 M acetate buffer solution (pH 5.0). As a result of the interaction of Cu(I) between the base pairs of the dsDNA, the characteristic peaks of dsDNA, due to the oxidation of guanine and adenine, increased and after a certain concentration of Cu(I) a new peak at +1.37 V appeared, probably due to the formation of a purine-Cu(I) complex (dsDNA-Cu(I) complex). Accordingly, the interaction of copper(I) with calf thymus dsDNA was studied in solution as well as at the electrode surface using hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) by means of alternating current voltammetry (AC voltammetry) in 0.3 M NaCl and 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 8.5) as supporting electrolyte. Its interaction with DNA is shown to be time dependent. Significant changes in the characteristic peaks of dsDNA were observed after addition of higher concentration of Cu(I) to a solution containing dsDNA, as a result of the interaction between Cu(I) and dsDNA. All the experimental results indicate that Cu(I) can bind to DNA by electrostatic binding and form an association complex.     

Association interaction and voltammetric determination of 1-aminopyrene and 1-hydroxypyrene at cyclodextrin and DNA based electrochemical sensors

The aim of this work was voltammetric determination of 1-aminopyrene and 1-hydroxypyrene using carbon paste electrodes modified with cyclodextrin derivatives and double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA). The detection schemes based on a preconcentration and differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) determination at beta-cyclodextrin and gamma-cyclodextrin modified carbon paste electrode (beta-CD/CPE, gamma-CD/CPE), neutral beta-cyclodextrin polymer and carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin polymer modified screen-printed electrode (beta-CDP/SPE, beta-CDPA/SPE) and dsDNA modified screen-printed electrode (DNA/SPE) are proposed for the trace determination of studied analytes within the concentration range from 2 x 10(-8) to 4 x 10(-7) mol dm(-3) and from 2 x 10(-7) to 4 x 10(-6) mol dm(-3) with the limits of quantification down to 10(-8) mol dm(-3). Depending on pH, 1-aminopyrene interacts with both surface attached CD and DNA by electrostatic bonds and supramolecular complexation while 1-hydroxypyrene associates with the CD hosts via complexation. The 1-aminopyrene interaction with dsDNA was confirmed by fluorimetric measurements in the solution phase using a competing DNA-TO-PRO-3 dye complex. In addition, the effect of temperature on this association was investigated using an electrically heated DNA-modified carbon paste electrode (DNA/CPE).     

高序热解石墨与玻碳电极上DNA的氧化和吸附行为

在高序热解石墨（ＨＯＰＧ）电极上,采用微分脉冲伏安法（ＤＰＶ）和电化学原子显微镜法（ＥＣＡＦＭ）探究小牛胸腺ＤＮＡ（ＣＴ ＤＮＡ）在电极表面的吸附。实验发现,控制电位下预极化对双链ＤＮＡ和ＨＯＰＧ电极上的吸附有很大的影响。而对单链ＤＮＡ影响不大。实验表明,在ＨＯＰＧ电极上ＥＡＦＭ是ＤＮＡ研究领域十分有用的技术,根据ＡＦＭ图象,结合文献上的ＤＮＡ吸附模型提出了ＣＴ ＤＮＡ研究领域十分有用的技术,根据     

Detection of short oligonucleotide sequences using an electrochemical DNA hybridization biosensor

An electrochemical DNA hybridization biosensor was developed for the detection of DNA hybridization using MDB and proflavine as electrochemical labels. The biosensor was based on the interaction of 7-dimethyl-amino-1,2-benzophenoxazi-nium Meldola’s Blue (MDB) and proflavine with double stranded DNA (dsDNA) The electrochemical behaviour of MDB and proflavine as well as its interaction with double stranded (dsDNA) were investigated by cyclic (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) and screen printed electrodes (ScPE). Furthermore, DNA-hybridization biosensors were developed for the detection of hybridization between oligonucleotides, which was detected by studying changes in the voltammetric peaks of MDB (reduction peak at −0.251 V) and proflavine (reduction peak at 0.075 V). MDB and proflavine were found to intercalate between the base pairs of dsDNA and oligonucleotides. Several factors affecting the dsDNA or oligonucleotides immobilization, hybridization and indicator preconcentration and interaction time, were investigated. As a result of the interaction of MDB with dsDNA and hybridized oligonucleotides, the voltammetric signals of MDB increased. Furthermore, guanine’s oxidation peak (at 0.901 V) was decreased as MDB’s concentration was increased. As a result of the interaction of proflavine with dsDNA and hybridized oligonucleotides, the voltammetric signals of proflavine decreased. These results were similar for carbon paste and screen printed electrodes. A comparison of the performance between CPE and ScPE was done. Our results showed that lower concentrations of MDB and proflavine were detected using screen printed electrodes. Moreover, reproducibility was better using screen printed electrodes and the detection was faster (regarding the experimental steps), but they are more cost effective.      

Self-assembly of amphiphilic hexapyridinium cations at the air/water interface and on HOPG surfaces.

Mono- and multilayers of a novel amphiphilic hexapyridinium cation with six eicosyl chains (3) are spread at the air/water interface as well as on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). On water, the monolayer of 3 is investigated by recording surface pressure/area and surface potential/area isotherms, and by Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). Self-organized tubular micelles with an internal edge-on orientation of molecules form at the air/water interface at low surface pressure whereas multilayers are present at high surface pressure, after a phase transition. Packing motifs suggesting a tubular arrangement of the constituting molecules were gleaned from atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigations of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayers being transferred on HOPG at different surface pressures. These LB film structures are compared to the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 3 formed via adsorption from a supersaturated solution, which is studied by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). On HOPG the SAM of 3 consists of nanorods with a highly ordered edge-on packing of the aromatic rings and an arrangement of alkyl chains which resembles the packing of molecules at the air/water interface at low surface pressure. Additional details of the molecular packing were gleaned from single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of the hexapyridinium model compound 2b, which possesses methyl instead of eicosyl residues.     

Phase transition behavior of two-component viologen adsorption layers on a HOPG electrode surface

Phase transition behavior of two-component viologen adsorption layers at a HOPG electrode was described using the results of voltammetric measurements. In the coexistence of heptyl viologen (HV) and its bis-carboxylated derivative in the solution phase, a well-mixed condensed monolayer of the radical cations was formed at any molar fraction. In sharp contrast, the binary system of HV and butyl viologen (BV) exhibited phase separation in the molar fraction range where BV is saturated in the predominantly formed condensed phase of HV. It was, however, found that this separation, being opposed to the prediction based on the adsorption free energy, occurs only when the time period enough for full condensation of HV is not given. The significant features of phase transition of two-component viologen adsorption layers on a HOPG electrode surface were highlighted in comparison with the formation and reductive desorption of the self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols.     

Voltammetric determination of trace amounts of gold with a chemically modified carbon paste electrode

A carbon paste electrode chemically modified with anion-exchangers is used for the voltammetric determination of gold(III). Tetrachloro- or tetrabromo-aurate(III) is preconcentrated on the electrode surface, modified with Amberlite LA2, and the electrode is transferred to an electrochemical cell for voltammetric measurements by cathodic stripping. The response depends on the concentration of gold in the bulk solution, preconcentration time, and other parameters. Detection limits are 100–300 μg l^?1 depending on the conditions. Many elements forming stable halo complex anions interfere.