Inexpensive bioluminescent genosensor for sensitive determination of DNA damage induced by some commonly used sunscreens.

Sunscreens (SSs) are highly applied all over the world on large areas of human body. Benzophenone chemical group constitute a major part in most SSs. Benzophenones are reported to induce changes in nucleic acids upon UV-irradiation. These alterations may potentially lead to DNA mutation, cell apoptosis, and eventually skin cancer. This work compares the kinetics of the induced DNA damage by some SSs after UV-irradiation. Six commonly used SSs; 4-t-butyl-4-methoxy dibenzoyl methane, 4-methoxycinnamic acid, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (BZ-3), Dibenzoyl methane, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxy benzophenone (BZ-8) and p-methylbenzoic acid; are investigated. In this work, terbium chloride bioluminescent genosensor is used for sensitive, simple and inexpensive determination of induced DNA-damage. Results reveal that only BZ-3 and BZ-8 induced DNA-damage upon UV-irradiation that are confirmed by both absorption spectroscopy and viscosity measurements. Moreover, viscosity studies indicated the possible intercalation of the SS into DNA prior to initiation of DNA damage. Furthermore, the potency of BZ-3 and BZ-8 to induce DNA damage upon UVA irradiation was assessed on calf thymus DNA. The low cost of the proposed bioluminescent genosensor allows it to be an automatic simple process for the investigation of any DNA-drug interactions without the need of coupling with other analytical methods.