Immobilization of methotrexate anticancer drug onto the graphene surface and interaction with calf thymus DNA and 4T1 cancer cells

Abstract

Immobilization of methotrexate (MTX) anticancer drug onto the graphene surface is reported through three methods, including either covalent linkage via (a) EDC/NHS organic activators and (b) electrografting of MTX diazonium salt, or (c) noncovalent bonding, resulting in three different systems. To evaluate the interaction ability of the immobilized MTX with biological species, calf thymus DNA (ctDNA), mouse 4T1 breast tumor, and Human foreskin fibroblast (hFF) cells as models of the primary intracellular target of anticancer drugs, cancer and normal cells, respectively, are examined. The features of the constructed systems and their interactions with ctDNA are followed by surface analysis techniques and electrochemical methods. The results indicate that (i) the amount of the immobilized MTX on the graphene surface is affected by type of the immobilization method; and a maximum value of (Γ=9.3±0.9pmolcm−2) is found via electrografting method, (ii) graphene-modified-MTX has high affinity for ctDNA in a wide dynamic range of concentrations, and (iii) the nature of the interaction is of electrostatic and/or hydrogen bonding type, formed most probably between OH, NH and CO groups of MTX and different DNA functions. Finally, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results approved the high affinity of the systems for 4T1 cancer cells.