Physico-chemical properties of C60(OH)22–24 water solutions: Density, viscosity, refraction index, isobaric heat capacity and antioxidant activity

Versatile applications of fullerenol nanoparticles

Nanomaterials have become increasingly important over time as research technology has enabled the progressively precise study of materials at the nanoscale. Developing an understanding of how nanomaterials are produced and tuned allows scientists to utilise their unique properties for a variety of applications, many of which are already incorporated into commercial products. Fullerenol nanoparticles C60(OH)n, 2 ≤ n ≤ 44 are fullerene derivatives and are produced synthetically. They have good biocompatibility, low toxicity and no immunological reactivity. In addition, their nanometre size, large surface area to volume ratio, ability to penetrate cell membranes, adaptable surface that can be easily modified with different functional groups, drug release, high physical stability in biological media, ability to remove free radicals, magnetic and optical properties make them desirable candidates for various applications. This review comprehensively summarises the various applications of fullerenol nanoparticles in different scientific fields such as nanobiomedicine, including antibacterial and antiviral agents, and provides an overview of their use in agriculture and biosensor technology. Recommendations are also made for future research that would further elucidate the mechanisms of fullerenols actions.

Incorporating the Antioxidant Fullerenol into Calcium Phosphate Bone Cements Increases Cellular Osteogenesis without Compromising Physical Cement Characteristics

Herein, fullerenol (Ful), a highly water-soluble derivative of C60 fullerene with demonstrated antioxidant activity, is incorporated into calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) to enhance their osteogenic ability. CPCs with added carboxymethyl cellulose/gelatin (CMC/Gel) are doped with biocompatible Ful particles at concentrations of 0.02, 0.04, and 0.1 wt v%-1 and evaluated for Ful-mediated mechanical performance, antioxidant activity, and in vitro cellular osteogenesis. CMC/gel cements with the highest Ful concentration decrease setting times due to increased hydrogen bonding from Ful's hydroxyl groups. In vitro studies of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging with CMC/gel cements demonstrate potent antioxidant activity with Ful incorporation and cement scavenging capacity is highest for 0.02 and 0.04 wt v%-1 Ful. In vitro cytotoxicity studies reveal that 0.02 and 0.04 wt v%-1 Ful cements also protect cellular viability. Finally, increase of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) in MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells treated with low-dose Ful cements demonstrate Ful-mediated osteogenic differentiation. These results strongly indicate that the osteogenic abilities of Ful-loaded cements are correlated with their antioxidant activity levels. Overall, this study demonstrates exciting potential of Fullerenol as an antioxidant and proosteogenic additive for improving the performance of calcium phosphate cements in bone reconstruction procedures.

Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of pentaamino acid fullerene C60 derivative in rats with metabolic disorder

Pentaamino acid fullerene C₆₀ derivative is a promising nanomaterial, which exhibited antihyperglycemic activity in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. This study investigates the effect of pentaaminoacid C₆₀ derivative (PFD) in rats with metabolic disorders. Rats were assigned to 3 groups (of 10 rats each) as follows: Group 1 (normal control), group 2 included the protamine-sulfate-treated rats (the untreated group of animals with the model metabolic disorder); group 3 (Protamine sulfate + PFD) included the protamine-sulfate-treated model rats that received an intraperitoneal injection of PFD. Metabolic disorder in rats was initiated by protamine sulfate (PS) administration. The PS + PFD group was injected intraperitoneally with PFD solution (3 mg/kg). Protamine sulfate induces biochemical changes (hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia) in the blood and morphological lesions in rat liver and pancreas. The potassium salt of fullerenylpenta-N-dihydroxytyrosine in protamine sulfate-induced rats normalized blood glucose level and the serum lipid profile and improved hepatic function markers. Treatment with PFD restored pancreas islets and liver structure of protamine sulfate-induced rats compared to the untreated group. PFD is a promising compound for further study as a drug against metabolic disorders.

Biocompatibility, antioxidant activity and collagen photoprotection properties of C60 fullerene adduct with L-methionine

Functionalization of the fullerene core with amino acids has become a new and promising direction in the field of nanochemistry. The biologic activity of water-soluble fullerene derivatives is based on such properties as lipophilicity, electron deficiency and photosensitivity. The complex of above-mentioned properties can be used to develop protection of biomolecules (in particular, proteins) from external physical and chemical influences. Thus, development and up-scaling of synthesis procedures, as well as investigation of the biological properties of these derivatives, are extremely important. This paper presents new data on the biocompatibility studies of C₆₀ fullerene adduct with L-methionine (C₆₀[C₅H₁₁NO₂S]₃; C₆₀-Met). Antiradical activity, binding to human serum albumin (HSA), collagen and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), hemocompatibility, photodynamic properties, genotoxicity and cytotoxicity were studied. In addition, it was found that C₆₀-Met increases the photostability of the collagen molecule, and this effect is dose-dependent.

Graphene oxide enriched with oxygen-containing groups: on the way to an increase of antioxidant activity and biocompatibility

The article is dedicated to the comprehensive biocompatibility investigation of synthesised graphene oxide (GO) enriched with oxygen-containing functional groups (⁓85%). GO was synthesised through a modified Hummers and Offeman's method and characterised using ¹³C NMR, Raman, and IR spectroscopy, XRD, HRTEM, along with size dimensions and ζ-potentials in aqueous dispersions. Biocompatibility study included tests on haemocompatibility (haemolysis, platelet aggregation, binding to human serum albumin and its esterase activity), antioxidant activity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl reaction, NO-radical uptake, Radachlorin photobleaching, photo-induced haemolysis), genotoxicity using DNA comet assay, as well as metabolic activity and proliferation of HEK293 cells.

In Vitro and In Silico Investigation of Water-Soluble Fullerenol C60(OH)24: Bioactivity and Biocompatibility

Light fullerenes, C₆₀ and C₇₀, have significant potential in biomedical applications due to their ability to absorb reactive oxygen species, inhibit the development of tumors, inactivate viruses and bacteria, and as the basis for developing systems for targeted drug delivery. However, the hydrophobicity of individual fullerenes complicates their practical use; therefore, creating water-soluble derivatives of fullerenes is increasingly important. Currently, the most studied soluble adducts of fullerenes are polyhydroxy fullerenes or fullerenols. Unfortunately, investigations of fullerenol biocompatibility are fragmental. They often lack reproducibility both in the synthesis of the compounds and their biological action. We here investigate the biocompatibility of a well-defined fullerenol C₆₀(OH)₂₄ obtained using methods that minimize the content of impurities and quantitatively characterize the product's composition. We carry out comprehensive biochemical and biophysical investigations of C₆₀(OH)₂₄ that include photodynamic properties, cyto- and genotoxicity, hemocompatibility (spontaneous and photo-induced hemolysis, platelet aggregation), and the thermodynamic characteristics of C₆₀(OH)₂₄ binding to human serum albumin and DNA. The performed studies show good biocompatibility of fullerenol C₆₀(OH)₂₄, which makes it a promising object for potential use in biomedicine.

Fullerenol changes metabolite responses differently depending on the iron status of cucumber plants

The unique properties of carbon-based nanomaterials, including fullerenol, have attracted great interest in agricultural and environmental applications. Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for major metabolic processes, for which a shortage causes chlorosis and reduces the yield of many crops cultivated worldwide. In the current study, the metabolic responses of Cucumis sativus (a Strategy I plant) to fullerenol treatments were investigated depending on the Fe status of plants. Cucumber plants were grown hydroponically, either with [+FeII (ferrous) and +FeIII (ferric)] or in Fe-free (-FeII and -FeIII) nutrient solution, with (+F) or without (-F) a fullerenol supply. Iron species-dependent effects were observed in either Fe-fed or Fe-starved plants, with alteration of metabolites involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, organic acids, lipophilic compounds. Metabolic perturbations triggered by fullerenol in the FeIII-treated plants were in the opposite kind from those in the FeII-treated plants. Whereas in the FeIII-fed plants, fullerenol activated the metabolisation of carbohydrates and amino acids, in the FeII-fed plants, fullerenol activated the metabolisation of lipophilic compounds and repressed the metabolisation of carbohydrates and amino acids. In FeIII-deficient plants, fullerenol stimulated the metabolism of C3 carboxylates and lipophilic compounds while repressing the metabolism of amino acids, hexoses and dicarboxylates, while in FeII-deficient plants, activations of the metabolism of amino acids and dicarboxylates and repression of sterol metabolism by fullerenol were observed. The results indicated that the valence state of Fe sources is of importance for re-programming metabolome responses in cucumber to fullerenol either in Fe-sufficient or Fe-deficient conditions. These investigations are significant for understanding fullerenol interactions and risk assessment in plants with different Fe statuses.

Biocompatibility of a nanocomposite based on Aerosil 380 and carboxylated fullerene C60[C(COOH)2]3

Silica is silicon dioxide, which, depending on the production method, can exist in various amorphous forms with varying specific surface area, particle size, pore volume and size, and, as a result, with different physicochemical and sorption characteristics. The presence of silanol groups on the surface of silicas provides the possibility of its further functionalisation. In addition, the developed specific surface of Aerosil allows to obtain composites with a high content of biologically active substances. In this work, we studied the biocompatibility of a composite based on Aerosil 380 and carboxylated fullerene C₆₀[C(COOH)₂]₃, namely: haemolysis (spontaneous and photoinduced), platelet aggregation, binding to HSA, cyto- and genotoxicity, antiradical activity. Interest in the creation of this nanomaterial is due to the fact that carboxylated fullerenes have potential applications in various fields of biomedicine, including the ability to bind reactive oxygen species, inhibition of tumour development, inactivation of viruses and bacteria. The obtained composite can be used for the immobilisation of various drugs and the further development of drugs for theranostics.

Reduction and functionalization of graphene oxide with L-cysteine: Synthesis, characterization and biocompatibility

This article presents data on the synthesis, identification, computer simulation and biocompatibility of graphene oxide (GO) functionalized with L-cysteine (GFC). It was determined that GO reacts with L-cysteine in two different ways: in an alkaline medium, L-cysteine reduces functional groups on the surface and at the boundaries of GO; with heating and the use of thionyl chloride, L-cysteine covalently attaches to GO through carboxylic groups only at the boundaries. The identification of GO, reduced graphene oxide and GFC was performed using various physicochemical methods, including infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Biocompatibility experiments included erythrocyte hemolysis, platelet aggregation, photodynamic and antiradical activity, binding to human serum albumin, and geno- and cytotoxicity studies. Applying density functional theory and molecular dynamics allowed us to obtain the structural and dynamic characteristics of a GFC-water binary system.

Fullerenol increases effectiveness of foliar iron fertilization in iron-deficient cucumber

The water-soluble fullerenols are novel carbon-based nanomaterials with unique properties, which afford them with wide agricultural applications. Iron (Fe) deficiency is the most common and widespread nutrition disorder affecting plants. Foliar Fe treatments of plants have been carried out with solutions devoid of fullerenol. In this study, the role of fullerenol [C60(OH)22-24] in alleviation of Fe deficiency in Cucumis sativus (a Strategy I plant) via foliar fertilization was investigated. Cucumber plants were grown hydroponically, either with (Fe) or in Fe-free (-Fe) nutrient solution. The following foliar spray treatments were applied: fullerenol at final concentrations of 1 (F1) and 10 (F10) mg L-1; Fe(II)SO4·7H2O; Fe(II)-EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid); and Fe(II)-F1 and Fe(II)-F10. The best used compound was a combination of Fe(II)-sulfate with fullerenol, especially Fe-F1. The addition of fullerenol to Fe(II)-sulfate solutions significantly increased leaf-active Fe (extracted by an Fe(II) chelator) and re-greening at the site of application. The fullerenol-induced mutual influences did not appear when fullerenol was sprayed alone, suggesting a beneficial role of Fe(II)-fullerenol interactions in the penetration of Fe(II) in the leaves and re-greening under Fe-limited conditions. The results are of importance to enhancing the potential of foliar Fe fertilization as the commonly used strategy for ameliorating Fe deficiency and improving crop yield and quality.

Novel Mixed Matrix Sodium Alginate-Fullerenol Membranes: Development, Characterization, and Study in Pervaporation Dehydration of Isopropanol

Novel mixed matrix dense and supported membranes based on biopolymer sodium alginate (SA) modified by fullerenol were developed. Two kinds of SA–fullerenol membranes were investigated: untreated and cross-linked by immersing the dry membranes in 1.25 wt % calcium chloride (CaCl₂) in water for 10 min. The structural and physicochemical characteristics features of the SA–fullerenol composite were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic methods, scanning electron (SEM) and atomic force (AFM) microscopies, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and swelling experiments. Transport properties were evaluated in pervaporation dehydration of isopropanol in a wide concentration range. It was found that the developed supported cross-linked SA-5/PAN^CaCl2 membrane (modified by 5 wt % fullerenol) possessed the best transport properties (the highest permeation fluxes 0.64–2.9 kg/(m² h) and separation factors 26–73,326) for the pervaporation separation of the water–isopropanol mixture in the wide concentration range (12–90 wt % water) at 22 °C and is suitable for the promising application in industry.