Electrochemistry of complex formation of carbaryl with ds-DNA using [Ru(bpy)2dppz]2+ as probe

An electrochemical competition method was used to study the interaction of carbaryl with natural double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA). Layer-by-layer films of negatively charged natural ds-DNA and polycationic poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) were assembled on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode. The DNA intercalator Ru(bpy)₂(dppz)]²⁺ (bpy?=?2, 2′-bipyridine, dppz?=?dipyrido 3, 2-a: 2′,3′-c] phenazine) was chosen as an electrochemical probe. Tripropylamine was used as an electron donor to chemically amplify the oxidation current of the probe. In order to examine the effects of substituting group on the binding interaction of carbaryl with DNA, the interaction of naphthalene or α-naphthol with DNA was also studied by square wave voltammetry (SWV). The values of binding constant K _b of the three compounds to DNA are determined, which fall in the range of (0.2?×?10⁵) to (1.3?×?10⁵)?M^?1. The correlation suggests that the functional groups may play an important role in the DNA/analyte competition binding interaction. We demonstrated that it is conducive to the combination of small molecules and DNA when the functional groups are hydrophobic and have the lone-pair electrons as the electron donor. Furthermore, UV-absorption and fluorescence intensity of Ru-dppz decreases in the presence of carbaryl. These characteristics strongly support the intercalation of carbaryl into double-stranded DNA.