ID Number		2021
Study Type		In Vitro
Model		Microwave exposure to purified DNA and analysis of covalent attachment of drugs
Details		Isolated double strand DNA was exposed to microwave energy at a level that increased the reaction temperature to 40°C, and this was compared to conventional heating in a standard heating block. The authors report this level of mild heating (40°C) was insufficient to cause DNA damage or denaturation. A 30-second exposure of microwaves at this level resulted in 95% of co-incubated pyrrolobenzodiazepine drugs (sequence-selective minor-groove binding molecules) to covalently attach to DNA, representing a 360 fold increase in the rate of the reaction vs. that of unexposed samples at room temperature. However, incubation at 40°C in a standard heating block did not result in the same increased reaction speed. Further, 3 separate pulses of 10 seconds each with the temperature maintained at 27°C was sufficient to increase the reaction equal to that of the single 30 second pulse (that resulted in 40°C sample temperature). This process would normally take 3-24 hours at 25°C (room temperature).
Findings		Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		University of London, UK - david.thurston@pharmacy.ac.uk
Funding Agency		Private/Instit.
Country		UNITED KINGDOM
References		Rahman, KM et al. Chem Commun (Camb), (2009) 20:2875-2877
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