Studies on sildenafil citrate (Viagra) interaction with DNA using electrochemical DNA biosensor

The interaction of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) with DNA was studied by using an electrochemical DNA biosensor. The binding mechanism of sildenafil citrate was elucidated by using constant current potentiometry and differential pulse voltammetry at DNA-modified glassy carbon electrode. The decrease in the guanine oxidation peak area or peak current was used as an indicator for the interaction in 0.2 M acetate buffer (pH 5). The binding constant (K) values obtained were 2.01 ± 0.05 × 105 and 1.97 ± 0.01 × 105 M−1 with constant current potentiometry and differential pulse voltammetry, respectively. A linear dependence of the guanine peak area or peak current was observed within the range of 1–40 μM sildenafil citrate with slope = −2.74 × 10−4 s/μM, r = 0.989 and slope = −2.78 × 10−3 μA/μM, r = 0.995 by using constant current potentiometry and differential pulse voltammetry, respectively. Additionally, binding constant values for sildenafil citrate–DNA interaction were determined for the pH range of 4–8 and in biological fluids (serum and urine) at pH 5. The influence of sodium and calcium ions was also studied to elucidate the mechanism of sildenafil citrate–DNA interaction under different solution conditions. The present study may prove to be helpful in extending our understanding of the anticancer activity of sildenafil citrate from cellular to DNA level.