Investigating the impact of metalloporphyrins on DNA damage during electron beam irradiation

This study explores the dose-dependent effects of ultrashort electron beams on DNA damage and the role of Zn-containing porphyrins in modulating this interaction. As advancements in electron beam technology continue to emerge, their potential applications in fields such as medicine and genetic engineering are becoming increasingly significant. However, the complex mechanisms governing the interaction between ultrashort electron beams and DNA remain largely uncharted. We investigated the influence of varying electron beam doses on DNA isolated from the calf thymus, as well as on DNA/porphyrin complexes. The presence of ZnTOEPyP porphyrin and its effects on radiation-induced DNA damage were examined at different relative concentrations of the complexes (r = 0.01; 0.02; 0.04, where r = C_porph./C_DNA) and compared to previous findings. The study sought to uncover the potential potentiating effects of porphyrins on DNA damage, dependent on both porphyrin concentration and radiation dose. Utilizing spectroscopic melting methods in a 10⁻³ M NaCl buffer solution. We identified the dependence of porphyrin-induced protective or radiation-enhancing effects on the combination of relative concentration and irradiation dose.