TiO2 has been tested to be toxic to DNA under the photo-irradiation of ultraviolet A （UVA）. However, in the dark conditions, after several days of treatment with TiO2 in aqueous solution, the interaction between TiO2 and two types of DNA was detected and the mechanisms were studied by the methods of gel-electrophoresis, IR spectroscopy and TEM. The results showed that the DNA would be bound to TiO2; the ratio of binding was related to the concentration and the treating time; the mechanism of binding is related to phosphate groups of DNA. Besides, DNA with different structure showed different degree of binding. These findings showed a new possible way through which the TiO2 nanoparticles interact with DNA.
Under the photocatalysis of 365 nm ultraviolet radiation,ultrafine TiO2 caused the oxidative damage of Teasy plasmid DNA. The damage was determined by gel-electrophoresis. Then,a different dose of β-CD was added to the reaction,and the damage was restrained. The rate of damage restraining reached 97% when the mass of β-CD was 4 times as that of TiO2. Through UV scan and IR spectroscopy,it was found that the Ti-O of ultrafine TiO2 was bound with -OH of β-CD cavum and the -OH on the surface of ultrafine TiO2 disappeared,so the formation of ?OH was controlled. The ultrafine TiO2 has been widely used,but it was determined to be carcinogenic by some research. The protection effect of β-CD to DNA in the molecular level takes a new look on the surface modification of nano particles to decrease the toxic effect.
ZHU RongRong,WANG ShiLong,SUN XiaoYu,ZHANG Rui & YAO SiDe School of Life Science and Technology,Tongji University,Shanghai 200092,China
