Iranian researchers find novel method to investigate DNA degradation

Iranian researchers from Isfahan University of Technology used a new technique to study radical groups involved in the chemical and biological processes, the effect of metals on the formation of radical and DNA degradation, and the mechanism for radical formation. Electrophoresis technique is nowadays employed to carry out the studies, which requires expensive equipment and devices. Taking into consideration the fact that many medicines, chemical and biological process, and drugs have radical mechanisms, the aim of this research was to develop a new method to directly investigate radical types involved in a process, their effects on the DNA, cell membranes, and proteins, and radical formation mechanism with the least possible error and cost. Although these goals are partially achievable by using electrophoresis device, the device does not have direct monitoring ability, and it has disadvantages such as the requirement of different equipment, high operational cost, long-term training, and the lack of a common sensitive detector. Carbon nanotubes were used in this research to better stabilize DNA and to increase the sensitivity of the designed biosensor. Due to their high specific area and high surface energy, nanoparticles and, specially carbon nanotubes are able to adsorb biomolecules such as DNA, and they play an important role in the stabilization of the biomolecules and in the production of biosensors. The adsorption of these materials on the surface of bulk materials change their nature and deactivates their biochemical activity, while there is an appropriate compatibility on nanoparticles. Results of the research have been published on 17 December 2012 in Analytical Chemistry, vol. 85, issue 2. For more information about the details of the research, study the full article on pages 991-997 on the same journal.