This study investigates redox properties of fluorescein (FLSC), a fluorescent tracer with many applications in several areas, markedly in biochemical research and health care diagnosis, on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) at a wide interval of pH by using voltammetric techniques. Three peaks were observed at different potentials. The investigation revealed that FLSC is irreversibly electroxidized under a diffusion‐controled and pH–dependent process. The oxidation process in acid and physiological media occurs in two consecutive steps with formation of a main electroactive oxidation product in acid medium. Both oxidation steps involve the transfer of one electron and one proton, corresponding to the oxidation of phenolic groups with formation of ortho‐quinone derivatives, which are reversibly reduced to form catechol derivatives, and/or polymeric products. One electron and one proton are removed from the phenolic group at the position C6’ at the first step and at position C3’ at the second step. The diffusion coefficient of FLSC was assessed in pH=7.0 phosphate buffer (9.77×10−5 cm2 s−1). A differential pulse voltammetric method for determination of FLSC in physiological medium was also proposed.

Raltitrexede (RTX) is a folate analogue that belongs to the antimetabolites family and has antineoplastic activity correlated to inhibition of the thymidylate synthase (TS) enzyme. This study addresses the electrochemical characterization of RTX at a glassy carbon electrode, on a wide interval of pH, using voltammetric techniques. The interaction between RTX and double helix DNA (dsDNA) in physiological medium is also addressed, using a DNA‐electrochemical biosensor. A mechanism for the electrochemical oxidation of RTX is proposed. RTX is irreversibly electroxidized under a predominantly diffusion controlled and pH‐dependent process. The oxidation process in acid and physiological media occurs in two consecutive steps. The first oxidation step is pH‐independent and associated with the transfer of one electron of the nitro group at N10 position by releasing a methyl cation. The second oxidation step is pH‐dependent and occurs with the transfer of one electron and one proton from the carbon at C9 position, followed by a direct attack by a water molecule leading to an irreversible dissociation of an oxidation product of RTX. A strong interaction between RTX and dsDNA was revealed by using a multilayer dsDNA electrochemical biosensor. The experiments demonstrated that RTX interacts and binds to the dsDNA helix by different interaction modes, suggesting an intercalation in between the DNA base pairs leading to defects in its secondary structure.

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This work presents a study of the electrochemical oxidation of 7‐methylguanine (7‐mGua) in aqueous solution at glassy carbon electrode by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, square wave voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectrometry. The anodic behaviour of 7‐mGua was compared with the electro‐oxidation of guanine and 7‐methylguanosine. The results demonstrated that the methyl and ribose groups are not electroactive but strongly influence the oxidation mechanism of these species. The oxidation of 7‐mGua occurred in a single pH‐dependent step, with the withdrawal of two electrons and two protons of C8, to form 8‐oxo‐7‐methylguanine, while the electro‐oxidation of 7‐methylguanosine also occurred in a single pH‐dependent step, however, with the withdrawal of one electron and one proton of C8 to form a hydroxylated product, since its oxidation to 8‐oxo‐7‐methylguanosine is hindered by the presence of the pendant groups. In addition, the oxidation of 7‐mGua was investigated in the presence of DNA and DNA‐bases, leading to the conclusion that the formation of 7‐mGua, from an interaction of DNA with an alkylating agent, would cause an increase on the deoxyguanosine peak current of the DNA‐biosensor, with no interference of any free DNA bases, which demonstrated that DNA‐electrochemical biosensors find application on detecting DNA methylation, opening a new avenue for applications of DNA biosensors.

The anodic behaviour of 1‐methyl‐tryptophan (1‐mTrp) in aqueous electrolytes was investigated on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), using voltammetric techniques. The oxidation of 1‐mTrp was associated with an electrochemical‐chemical (EC) mechanism: one electron and one proton were removed of C2 to form an intermediate radical, 1‐mTrp⋅. This was followed by a two‐way reaction, producing a 1‐mTrp dimer and/or reaction with water to form a final hydroxylated product. The oxidation mechanism of 1‐mTrp proposed was also compared with the anodic oxidation Trp on GCE. Differential pulse voltammetry was also explored for quantification of Trp and 1‐mTrp in neutral medium with low detection limits, on an anodically pre‐treated GCE.