Electrochemical and spectroscopic studies of ssDNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide using graphene based nanomaterials

• Graphene–metal nanoparticles were used for electrode surface modification.
• Modified electrode was employed for studying the ssDNA damage induced by H2O2.
• FTIR studies also helped to evaluate the ssDNA damage and graphene–ssDNA stability.
• Graphene–gold nanoparticles seems to protect the ssDNA towards H2O2 attack.

The oxidative damage of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has been intensively studied due to its role in the occurrence of some diseases. The hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is one of the reactive oxygen species (ROS). It can induce oxidation of DNA bases, sugar lesions or DNA strand breaks. The Pt/Gr–Au-3 modified electrode was employed for the analysis of four ssDNA samples: single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), ssDNA pre-treated with hydrogen peroxide (ssDNA–H2O2), ssDNA pre-treated with graphene–gold nanoparticles (ssDNA–Gr–Au) and ssDNA–Gr–Au complex pre-treated with hydrogen peroxide (ssDNA–Gr–Au–H2O2). By monitoring the changes of the purine oxidation peaks currents, we obtained valuable information about the damage induced by the hydrogen peroxide onto the un-treated or graphene pre-treated ssDNA and also about the interaction between ssDNA and graphene-based nanomaterial. The FTIR analysis has been also used to obtain information about the ssDNA damage. These findings allowed us to prove the utility of graphene-based nanomaterials (mainly Gr–Au-3) not only for the investigation of the oxidative damage induced by a non-radical oxidant, but also for the determination of the type of interaction between ssDNA and graphene surface. The stability of the ssDNA–Gr–Au-3 complex against the damage induced by H2O2, in the absence of reduced transition metals, was also established.

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