Simultaneous detection of guanine and adenine in DNA and meat samples using graphitized mesoporous carbon modified electrode

A graphitized mesoporous carbon modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE/GMC) prepared by drop coating method without any pre-anodization of the underlying GCE or external binder/matrix, has been demonstrated for simultaneous electrochemical oxidation of guanine (G) and adenine (A) at oxidation potentials 0.60 and 0.85 V vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively, in the presence of thymine (T) by differential pulse voltammetric method in pH 7 phosphate buffer solution. Control voltammetric experiments with unmodified GCE, graphite nanopowder and multiwalled carbon nanotube modified electrodes yielded either feeble or with high-background current responses. Interestingly, the GCE/GMC showed highly efficient, stable and well-defined voltammetric signals. Thymine oxidation signal noticed discretely at 1.15 V vs. Ag/AgCl on the GCE/GMC was not influenced for the simultaneous determination of G and A. Constructed DPV calibration graphs were linear in the range of 25–200 and 25–150 μM, respectively, for the G and A. Corresponding detection limit (S/N = 3) values are 0.76 and 0.63 μM. Real sample analyses for the detection of G and A concentrations in calf-thymus DNA (detected [G]/[A] ratio = 0.82), beef brain and beef liver were successfully demonstrated with recovery values ~100 %.