Triazole–acridine conjugates: Redox mechanisms and in situ electrochemical evaluation of interaction with double-stranded DNA

Redox mechanisms and in situ electrochemical interaction with double-stranded DNA were investigated using a DNA-electrochemical biosensor for two disubstituted triazole-linked acridine compounds (GL15 and GL7), previously reporting as quadruplex DNA-binding molecules. The redox properties of GL15 and GL7 involve a complex, pH-dependent, adsorption-controlled irreversible process and were investigated using cyclic, differential pulse, and square wave voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode. The interaction between duplex DNA and GL15 or GL7 was investigated in incubated solutions using dsDNA-, poly[G]-, and poly[A]-electrochemical biosensors. It was demonstrated that the interaction is time-dependent, both GL15 and GL7 interacting with dsDNA, causing condensation of dsDNA morphological structure but not oxidative damage.

► Clarify the redox mechanism of two disubstituted triazole-linked acridine compounds
► pH-dependent process investigated at a glassy carbon electrode
► In situ evaluation of DNA-disubstituted triazole-linked acridine compounds