Sensitive "release-on-demand" fluorescent genosensors for probing DNA damage induced by commonly used cardiovascular

Sara S Mourad1, Magda A Barary1, Amira F El-Yazbi1

  • 1Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, 1 El Khartoum Square, Alexandria 21521, Egypt.

Insights

Cardiovascular drugs (CVDs) can cause DNA damage when exposed to UVA radiation, as shown by bioluminescent genosensors. This interaction highlights potential risks associated with drug-radiation exposure.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disorders are a leading cause of global mortality.
  • Chronic use of cardiovascular drugs (CVDs) can lead to drug-radiation interactions.
  • Drug-radiation interactions may cause photosensitization, leading to DNA damage, mutagenesis, and cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate potential DNA damage induced by frequently used CVDs following UVA irradiation.
  • To assess the interaction between specific CVDs and DNA using bioluminescent genosensors.
  • To evaluate the utility of terbium chloride and EvaGreen genosensors for detecting DNA-drug interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Application of two bioluminescent genosensors: Terbium chloride and EvaGreen.
  • Investigation of ten commonly prescribed CVDs: Amiloride, Atorvastatin, Captopril, Enalapril, Felodipine, Hydrochlorothiazide, Indapamide, Losartan, Triamterene, and Valsartan.
  • Confirmation of DNA damage and drug-DNA interaction using viscosity measurements and calf thymus DNA.

Main Results:

  • All ten studied CVDs induced DNA damage upon UVA irradiation.
  • The induced DNA damage proportionally altered the fluorescence of both terbium chloride and EvaGreen genosensors.
  • Viscosity measurements indicated possible intercalation of CVDs with DNA, confirming the observed damage.

Conclusions:

  • Frequently used cardiovascular drugs can induce DNA damage following UVA irradiation.
  • Bioluminescent genosensors offer a simple, automated, and cost-effective method for assessing DNA-drug interactions.
  • The findings highlight potential risks of drug-radiation interactions and the importance of genotoxicity assessment for CVDs.