Electrochemical studies of the interaction of rifampicin and nanosome/rifampicin with dsDNA

•The direct electrochemistry of dsDNA was used for in situ monitoring of the drug-DNA interaction.•Rifampicin (RF) and nanosome/rifampicin (NRF) interact with dsDNA.•The interaction of NRF with dsDNA has nontoxic effect. The interactions of dsDNA with rifampicin (RF) or with rifampicin after encapsulation in phospholipid micelles (nanosome/rifampicin) (NRF) were studied electrochemically. Screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) modified by stable dispersions of multi-wolled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in aqueous solution of poly(1,2-butadiene)-block-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PB290-b-PDMAEMA240) diblock copolymer were used for quantitative electrochemical investigation of direct electrochemical oxidation of guanine at E = 0.591 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and adenine at E = 0.874 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) of dsDNA and its change in the presence of RF or NRF. Due to RF or NRF interaction with dsDNA, the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) peak currents of guanine and adenine decreased and the peak potentials shifted to more positive values with increasing drug concentration (RF or NRF). Binding constants (Kb) of complexes RF-dsDNA and NRF-dsDNA were calculated based on adenine and guanine oxidation signals. The Kb values for RF-dsDNA were 1.48 × 104 M−1/8.56 × 104 M−1, while for NRF-dsDNA were 2.51 × 104 M−1/1.78 × 103 M−1 (based on adenine or guanine oxidation signals, respectively). The values of Kb revealed intercalation mode of interaction with dsDNA for RF and mixed type of interaction (intercalation and electrostatic mode) for NRF. The estimated values of ΔG (Gibbs free energy) of the complex formation confirmed that drug-dsDNA interactions are spontaneous and favourable reactions.