Studies of interaction between terbium(III)-deferasirox and double helix DNA by spectral and electrochemical methods

• DNA binding studies of terbium3+-deferasirox (Tb3+-DFX) complex were studied.
• Several spectroscopic techniques and cyclic voltammetry and viscosity measurement have been used in this research.
• The binding constants (Kb) for the complex with ctDNA were estimated to be 1.8 × 104 M−1.
• Tb3+-DFX complex can bind to ctDNA via groove binding and/or electrostatic binding modes.

DNA binding studies of terbium(III)-deferasirox (Tb3+-DFX) complex were monitored to understand the reaction mechanism and introduce a new probe for the assay of DNA. In the present work, UV absorption spectrophotometry, fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and viscosity measurement were employed to study the interactions of Tb3+-DFX with calf thymus DNA (ctDNA). The binding of Tb3+-DFX complex to ctDNA showed a hyperchromic effect in the absorption spectra and the increase in fluorescence quenching effect (amount) of Tb3+-DFX complex in the presence of ctDNA. The binding constants (Kb) for the complex with ctDNA were estimated to be 1.8 × 104 M−1 through UV absorption spectrophotometry and fluorescence spectroscopy. Upon addition of the complex, clear decreases were observed in the viscosity of ctDNA. The CD spectra indicated that there are certain detectable conformational changes in the DNA double helix when the complex was added. The CV method showed that both anodic and cathodic peak potentials of Tb3+-DFX complex showed negative shifts on the addition of the ctDNA. Further, competitive methylene blue binding studies with fluorescence spectroscopy have shown that the complex can bind to ctDNA through nonintercalative mode. The experimental results suggest that Tb3+-DFX complex binds to DNA via groove binding and/or electrostatic binding mode.

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