Nanoparticle Effect on Interaction of Epirubicin with DNA ^†

Epirubicin, (7S,9S)-7-[(2R,4S,5R,6S)-4-amino-5-hydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-6,9,11-trihydroxy-9-(2-hydroxyacetyl)-4-methoxy-8,10-dihydro-7H-tetracene-5,12-dione, which is an antineoplastic in the anthracycline class, is a 4′-epi-isomer of the anthracycline antineoplastic doxorubicin. It is a topoisomerase inhibitor which inhibits topoisomerase II and intercalates into DNA, thus inhibiting DNA replication and ultimately, interfering with RNA and protein synthesis. Epirubicin is limited because of dose-dependent side effects including cardio toxicity, bone suppression, low blood counts, hair loss, nausea and vomiting. Drug-DNA interaction studies can give us brief information on the journey of the drug in the human body. In this study, an electrochemical DNA-based biosensor was developed for the detection of DNA–Epirubicin interaction through the electroactive properties of guanine and adenine nucleotides. Initially, interaction time and concentration of Epirubicin in response to guanine were optimized. Moreover, nanoparticles were used to modify the screen-printed electrodes surface to enhance the electrochemical signal. The effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) was further studied in detail. Layer-by-layer modification of the screen-printed electrode-based DNA biosensor gave the highest guanine response and resulted in a well-followed decrease in guanine signal after interaction with 0.5 ppm Epirubicin. With 5 min interaction time, the SPE/PtNPs/AgNPs/AgNPs DNA biosensor gave a linear response between 0.1 and 1 ppm Epirubicin.