Eur. Phys. J. D (2015) 69: 121
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2015-60036-5

Regular Article

Radio- and photosensitization of DNA with compounds containing platinum and bromine atoms^*

¹ Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Ocean Engineering and Ship Technology, Department of Control and Energy Engineering, G. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
² Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University, MK7 6AA, Milton Keynes, UK
³ Radiation Laboratory and Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, 46556, IN, USA
⁴ ISA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

^a e-mail: smialek@pg.gda.pl

Received: 19 January 2015
Received in final form: 23 March 2015
Published online: 5 May 2015

Abstract

Irradiations of plasmid DNA by both X-rays and UV light in the presence and absence of compounds containing platinum and bromine atoms were performed in order to asses the sensitization potential of these compounds. Plasmid DNA pBR322 was incubated with platinum (II) bromide, hydrogen hexabromoplatinate (IV), hydrogen hexahydroxyplatinate (IV) and sodium hexahydroxyplatinate (IV). Incubation was followed by X-ray or UV irradiations. It was found that amongst the sensitizers tested, during irradiations carried out in the presence of platinum (II) bromide, the highest levels of double strand breaks formation upon X-ray treatment were recorded. In contrast much less damage was induced by UV light. Data presented here suggests that this compound may be a promising radiosensitizer for cancer treatment.