Dovbeshko G. Molecular mechanisms of interaction of biological molecules with nanostructures, ligands and low doses of ionizing and microwave irradiation

Molecular mechanisms of biological molecule interaction with metal and carbon nanostructures, anti-cancer drugs, as well as with low doses of ionizing and microwave irradiation are studied. A new method based on surface enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) of molecules near nanostructured metal surfaces is proposed and used for a detection of small amounts of biological molecules and identification of conformation state for DNA and protein molecules. Application of SEIRA technique with nanostructured gold surfaces developed by us, revealed characteristic features of structural organization of nucleic acids extracted from cancer cells of different malignancy grade, as well as that of sensitive and resistant strains of cells before and after an anti-cancer drug application in vivo and in vitro. A molecular mechanism of an effect of low doses of ionizing irradiation (1-57 cGy) on model animals is revealed to induce damages in primary and secondary DNA structures. An effect of low doses (1-100 mW/cm2) ofmicrowave irradiation in the range of 37-78 GHz on optical and polarization properties for model biological systems indicates to polarization mechanism of microwave influence. Structural and conformation changes in DNA, its building blocks and proteins adsorbed on single-walled carbon nanotubes and gold nanostructures, possible sites of interaction, energetic parameters are studied.