Sensitive Nucleic Acid Detection at NH2-MWCNTs Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode and its Application for Monitoring of Gemcitabine-DNA Interaction

An electrochemical dsDNA nanobiosensor was fabricated using amino-functionalized multi walled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode (NH(2)fMWCNTs/GCE) for the sensitive detection of DNA bases and electrochemical monitoring of drug-DNA interaction. The influence of functional groups on MWCNT was studied by MWCNT functionalized with NH2 (NH(2)fMWCNTs) and COOH (COOHfMWCNT) groups based on the signal of DNA bases. The modified electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. One layer of calf thymus double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ct-dsDNA) was immobilized onto the NH(2)fMWCNTs/GCE (dsDNA/NH(2)fMWCNTs/GCE). The dsDNA/NH(2)fMWCNTs/GCE were used to investigate the interaction between the dsDNA and the anticancer drug gemcitabine by differential pulse voltammetry in acetate buffer of pH 4.70. For the confirmation of interaction, the lowering in intensity of the current signals of guanine and adenine was considered as an indicator. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies were performed for the comparison of the modified surfaces. In order to define and visualize the interaction mechanism between gemcitabine and dsDNA/NH(2)fMWCNTs/GCE at the molecular level, in silico methods including docking and molecular dynamics simulations were employed.