Electrochemical Sensor Based on Oxidation of 2,8‐Dihydroxyadenine to Monitor DNA Damage in Calf Thymus DNA

A novel and reliable direct electrochemical method has been established to monitor DNA damage in acid hydrolyzed calf thymus DNA, based on the determination of 2,8‐dihydroxyadenine (2,8‐DHA). A single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) modified edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrode (EPPGE) has been used as a sensor to monitor the DNA damage. 2,8‐DHA the main in vivo adenine oxidation product undergoes oxidation at ～395 mV at SWCNT modified EPPGE using square wave voltammetry (SWV). The sensor exhibits potent and persistent electron‐mediating behavior. A well‐defined oxidation peak for the oxidation of 2,8‐DHA was observed at modified electrode with lowering of peak potential and increase in peak current as compared to bare EPPGE. At optimal experimental conditions, the catalytic oxidative peak current was responsive with the 2,8‐DHA concentrations ranging from 0.05 nM to 100 nM. The detection limit was 3.8×10^?11 M and limit of quantification was 1.27×10^?10 M. The modified electrode exhibited high stability and reproducibility.