Effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on the thermal stability of native DNA under UV irradiation

Abstract

$TiO_{2}$ nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in the environmental engineering, medicine, chemical and food industries due to their unique photocatalytic and biocidal properties. NPs may generate reactive oxygen species and, hence, have the toxic effect on the living cells via oxidative stress. An external UV irradiation may magnify the photocatalytic properties of $TiO_{2}$ NPs. In this regard, we have analyzed the influence of $TiO_{2}$ NPs on the conformation and thermal stability of native DNA in a buffer solution without and under UV irradiation exploiting absorption spectroscopy with DNA thermal denaturation in the range of 20-94 degrees Celsius. Upon DNA heating from about 25 to 44 degrees Celsius, we have observed the stabilization of DNA duplex in the presence of $TiO_{2}$ NPs. This additional biopolymer stabilization indicates that partial DNA unwinding appears as a result of the direct binding of the biopolymer to NPs. We showed that the performed UV treatment of DNA during 3 hours leads to partial unwinding of the biopolymer structure. The NPs injection to the biopolymer solution induced the additional effect on the DNA thermal stability under UV irradiation. The performed analysis of the experimental data suggests that the nature of the impact of NPs on the biopolymer is complex.