In vitro DNA binding studies of anticancer drug idarubicin using spectroscopic techniques

• The interaction antitumor drug, idarubicin, and DNA is investigated.
• Several spectroscopic techniques are used in the study of interaction.
• Fluorescence quenching mechanism of idarubicin and DNA is combined static and dynamic.
• The interaction between idarubicin and DNA is intercalation mode.

The interaction between idarubicin and double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ds-DNA) was investigated by UV–VIS spectrophotometry, fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy techniques. The absorption spectra of idarubicin with ds-DNA showed a slight red shift and hypochromic effect. In the fluorescence experiments, emission peaks were decreased by adding ds-DNA. Using ethidium bromide (ETB) as a fluorescence probe, fluorescence quenching of the emission peak was observed in the ETB-DNA system when idarubicin was added. Moreover, similar results were obtained in Raman spectroscopy. Binding constants of idarubicin with ds-DNA were determined as 5.14 × 105 M−1 and 5.8 × 105 M−1 for UV–VIS spectrophotometry and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The large binding constant indicated that idarubicin has a high affinity with ds-DNA. All the evidences indicated that the binding mode of idarubicin with DNA was an intercalative binding. Furthermore, quantitative determination of idarubicin in pharmaceutical formulation was done.