•OH and O2•- Generation in Aqueous C60 and C70 Solutions by Photoirradiation: An EPR Study

Synthesis and characterization of water-soluble C60-peptide conjugates

With the aim of developing biocompatible and water-soluble C60 derivatives, three types of C60-peptide conjugates consisting of hydrophilic oligopeptide anchors (oligo-Lys, oligo-Glu, and oligo-Arg) were synthesized. A previously reported Prato reaction adduct of a biscarboxylic acid-substituted C60 derivative was subjected to a solid phase synthesis for amide formation with N-terminal amines of peptides on resin to successfully provide C60-peptide conjugates with one C60 and two peptide anchors as water-soluble moieties. Among three C60-peptide conjugates prepared, C60-oligo-Lys was soluble in water at neutral pH, and C60-oligo-Glu was soluble in buffer with a higher pH value, but C60-oligo-Arg was insoluble in water and most other solvents. C60-oligo-Lys and C60-oligo-Glu were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR. Photoinduced 1O2 generation was observed in the most soluble C60-oligo-Lys conjugate under visible light irradiation (527 nm) to show the potential of this highly water-soluble molecule in biological systems, for example, as a photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy.

Superoxide Anion Chemistry-Its Role at the Core of the Innate Immunity

Classically, superoxide anion O₂^•- and reactive oxygen species ROS play a dual role. At the physiological balance level, they are a by-product of O₂ reduction, necessary for cell signalling, and at the pathological level they are considered harmful, as they can induce disease and apoptosis, necrosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis and autophagic cell death. This revision focuses on understanding the main characteristics of the superoxide O₂^•-, its generation pathways, the biomolecules it oxidizes and how it may contribute to their modification and toxicity. The role of superoxide dismutase, the enzyme responsible for the removal of most of the superoxide produced in living organisms, is studied. At the same time, the toxicity induced by superoxide and derived radicals is beneficial in the oxidative death of microbial pathogens, which are subsequently engulfed by specialized immune cells, such as neutrophils or macrophages, during the activation of innate immunity. Ultimately, this review describes in some depth the chemistry related to O₂^•- and how it is harnessed by the innate immune system to produce lysis of microbial agents.

Degradation of phenolic pollutants by persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes: metal and carbon-based catalysis

Wastewater recycling is a solution to address the global water shortage. Phenols are major pollutants in wastewater, and they are toxic even at very low concentrations. Advanced oxidation process (AOP) is an emerging technique for the effective degradation and mineralization of phenols into water. Herein, we aim at giving an insight into the current state of the art in persulfate-based AOP for the oxidation of phenols using metal/metal-oxide and carbon-based materials. Special attention has been paid to the design strategies of high-performance catalysts, and their advantages and drawbacks are discussed. Finally, the key challenges that govern the implementation of persulfate-based AOP catalysts in water purification, in terms of cost and environmental friendliness, are summarized and possible solutions are proposed. This work is expected to help the selection of the optimal strategy for treating phenol emissions in real scenarios.

[Development of Bio-active Fullerene Derivatives Suitable for Drug]

Fullerene (C₆₀) and fullerene derivatives are attractive novel compounds not only for carbon materials of nanotechnology but also for medical fields because of its unique chemical and physical properties. We intend to develop fullerene derivatives as novel lead compounds for drug discovery. At first, we synthesized many types of water-soluble fullerene derivatives to investigate their biological activities because of their poor solubility in water. We found that anionic fullerene derivatives possess anti-oxidant activities, whereas di-cationic fullerene derivatives exhibited antiproliferative activities against various cancer cell lines including drug-resistant cells. Proline-type fullerene derivatives showed inhibitory activities against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase, HIV protease, hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B RNA polymerase, and HCV NS3/4A protease. These activities may strongly inhibit virus replication via a synergistic effect and fullerene derivatives may be used as novel multi-target drugs for the treatment of AIDS and hepatitis C in the future.

Novel Mechanism by a Bis-Pyridinium Fullerene Derivative to Induce Apoptosis by Enhancing the MEK-ERK Pathway in a Reactive Oxygen Species-Independent Manner in BCR-ABL-Positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia-Derived K562 Cells

In the treatment of breakpoint cluster region-Abelson (BCR-ABL)-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) using BCR-ABL inhibitors, the appearance of a gatekeeper mutation (T315I) in BCR-ABL is a serious issue. Therefore, the development of novel drugs that overcome acquired resistance to BCR-ABL inhibitors by CML cells is required. We previously demonstrated that a bis-pyridinium fullerene derivative (BPF) induced apoptosis in human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)-derived K562 cells partially through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We herein show that BPF enhanced the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK-ERK) pathway in a ROS-independent manner. BPF-induced apoptosis was attenuated by trametinib, suggesting the functional involvement of the MEK-ERK pathway in apoptosis in K562 cells. In addition, the constitutive activation of the MEK-ERK pathway by the enforced expression of the BRAFV600E mutant significantly increased the sensitivity of K562 cells to BPF. These results confirmed for the first time that BPF induces apoptosis in K562 cells through dual pathways-ROS production and the activation of the MEK-ERK pathway. Furthermore, BPF induced cell death in transformed Ba/F3 cells expressing not only BCR-ABL but also T315I mutant through the activation of the MEK-ERK pathway. These results indicate that BPF is as an effective CML drug that overcomes resistance to BCR-ABL inhibitors.

Phototherapy and optical waveguides for the treatment of infection

With rapid emergence of multi-drug resistant microbes, it is imperative to seek alternative means for infection control. Optical waveguides are an auspicious delivery method for precise administration of phototherapy. Studies have shown that phototherapy is promising in fighting against a myriad of infectious pathogens (i.e. viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa) including biofilm-forming species and drug-resistant strains while evading treatment resistance. When administered via optical waveguides, phototherapy can treat both superficial and deep-tissue infections while minimizing off-site effects that afflict conventional phototherapy and pharmacotherapy. Despite great therapeutic potential, exact mechanisms, materials, and fabrication designs to optimize this promising treatment option are underexplored. This review outlines principles and applications of phototherapy and optical waveguides for infection control. Research advances, challenges, and outlook regarding this delivery system are rigorously discussed in a hope to inspire future developments of optical waveguide-mediated phototherapy for the management of infection and beyond.

Unexpected Disparity in Photoinduced Reactions of C60 and C70 in Water with the Generation of O2 •- or 1O2

Well-defined fullerene-PEG conjugates, C₆₀-PEG (1) and two C₇₀-PEG (2 and 3 with the addition sites on ab-[6,6] and cc-[6,6]-junctions), were prepared from their corresponding Prato monoadduct precursors. The resulting highly water-soluble fullerene-PEG conjugates 1-3 were evaluated for their DNA-cleaving activities and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation under visible light irradiation. Unexpectedly, photoinduced cleavage of DNA by C₆₀-PEG 1 was much higher than that by C₇₀-PEG 2 and 3 with higher absorption intensity, especially in the presence of an electron donor (NADH). The preference of photoinduced ROS generation from fullerene-PEG conjugates 1-3 via the type II (energy transfer) or the type I (electron transfer) photoreaction was found to be dependent on the fullerene core (between C₆₀ and C₇₀) and functionalization pattern of C₇₀ (between 2 and 3). This was clearly supported by the electron transfer rate obtained from cyclic voltammetry data and computationally estimated relative rate of each step of the type II and the type I reactions, with the finding that type II energy transfer reactions occurred in the inverted Marcus regime while type I electron transfer reactions proceeded in the normal Marcus regime. This finding on the disparity in the pathways of photoinduced reactions (type I versus type II) provides insights into the behavior of photosensitizers in water and the design of photodynamic therapy drugs.

DNA Cleavage by Chemically Exfoliated Molybdenum Disulfide Nanosheets

Chemically exfoliated MoS₂ (ce-MoS₂) nanosheets have been widely used in biomedical and environmental fields. Some in vitro studies demonstrated that ce-MoS₂ might induce toxicity. However, the understanding of the mechanism of potential toxicity is lacking. In this study, we found that ce-MoS₂ could directly induce breakage of double-stranded DNA with or without an external energy input, making it different from other two-dimensional nanomaterials. In a dark environment, the DNA cleavage exhibited a pH-dependent trend due to reactive oxygen species generation under different pH values. Under photoirradiation, DNA cleavage could be enhanced. This study provides insights into the potential environmental risk and toxicity of ce-MoS₂ in the aquatic environment.

Phototriggerable Transient Electronics via Fullerene-Mediated Degradation of Polymer:Fullerene Encapsulation Layer

Transient electronics is an emerging class of electronics that has attracted a lot of attention because of its potential as an environmental-friendly alternative to the existing end-of-life product disposal or treatments. However, the controlled degradation of transient electronics under environmentally benign conditions remains a challenge. In this work, the tunable degradation of transient electronics including passive resistor devices and active memory devices was realized by photodegradable thin polymer films comprising fullerene derivatives, [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl esters (PCBM). The photodegradation of polymer:PCBM under an aqueous environment is triggered by ultraviolet (UV) light. Experimental results demonstrate that the addition of PCBM in commodity polymers, including but not limited to polystyrene, results in a catalytic effect on polymer photodegradation when triggered by UV light. The degradation mechanism of transient electronics is ascribed to the photodegradation of polymer:PCBM encapsulation layers caused by the synergistic effect between UV and water exposure. The polymer:PCBM encapsulation system presented herein offers a simple way to achieve the realization of light-triggered device degradation for bioapplication and expands the material options for tailorable degradation of transient electronics.

Single-Molecule AFM Study of DNA Damage by 1O2 Generated from Photoexcited C60

Light-induced oxidative damage of DNA by ¹O₂ generated from photoexcited C₆₀ was observed at the single-molecule level by atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. Two types of DNA origami with uniform morphologies were immobilized on a mica surface and used as DNA substrates. Upon visible light irradiation (528 nm) in the presence of a C₆₀ aqueous solution, the morphology changes of DNA origami substrates were observed by time-lapse AFM imaging at the single-molecule level by tracking a discrete DNA molecule. The origami showed nicked and flattened morphologies with relaxed features caused by the covalent cleavage of the DNA strands. The involvement of ¹O₂ in the on-surface DNA damage was clearly confirmed by AFM experiments in the presence of a ¹O₂ quencher and ESR measurements with a spin-trapping agent for ¹O₂. This study is the first example of single-molecule observation of oxidative damage of DNA by AFM with corresponding morphology changes in a photocontrolled and time-dependent manner by ¹O₂ generated catalytically from photoexcited C₆₀.

[Preparation and Evaluation of Fullerene Based Nanomedicine]

Fullerenes, large spherical molecules composed solely of carbon atoms, have gathered much attention for practical applications that take advantage of their unique spherical structure, physical properties, and biological activities. For example, fullerene C₆₀ can function as a photosensitizer, an antioxidant, a bioimaging agent, and as a gene or drug carrier. However, the practical use of C₆₀ for these potential biomedical applications has been hampered by the fact that it is only sparingly soluble in water. In this review, we focus on the development of hydrophilic C₆₀ nanoparticles, the surface of which is covered by cyclodextrin (CD), and then evaluate its biological activities. C₆₀/CD nanoparticles were stable under physiological conditions, and even under much harsher conditions. The nanoparticles generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under visible light irradiation. Efficient photodynamic therapy against tumor growth was achieved by the intravenous injection of C₆₀/CD nanoparticles to tumor bearing mice, followed by photoirradiation. In addition, C₆₀(OH)₁₀, which is regarded as a potential candidate for use in scavenging ROS, was also prepared in the form of water soluble nanoparticles. C₆₀(OH)₁₀/CD nanoparticles protect the liver from injury by the suppression of oxidative stress occurring in the mitochondria, for example, by scavenging ROS such as superoxide anion radicals (O₂^・-), nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO^-), which act as critical mediators in liver injuries. C₆₀-based nanoparticles represent a potentially promising material for use in the treatment of cancer and oxidative stress-related diseases, and are promising as well in terms of extensive biological applications.

Synthesis and In Vitro Biological Evaluation of Psoralen-Linked Fullerenes

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a widely used medicinal treatment for the cancer therapy that utilizes the combination of a photosensitizer (PS) and light irradiation. In this study, we synthesized two novel C₆₀ fullerene derivatives, compounds 1 and 2, with a psoralen moiety that can covalently bind to DNA molecules via cross-linking to pyrimidine under photoirradiation. Along with several fullerene derivatives, the biological properties of several novel compounds have been evaluated. Compounds 1 and 2, which have been shown to induce the production of hydroxyl radicals using several ROS detecting reagents, induced DNA strand breaks with relatively weak activities in the in vitro detection system using a supercoiled plasmid. However, the psoralen-bound fullerene with carboxyl groups (2) only showed genotoxicity in the genotoxicity assay system of the umu test. Compound 2 was also seen to have cytotoxic activities in several cancer cell lines at higher doses compared to water-soluble fullerenes.

Proteins as supramolecular hosts for C60: a true solution of C60 in water

Hybrid systems have great potential for a wide range of applications in chemistry, physics and materials science. Conjugation of a biosystem to a molecular material can tune the properties of the components or give rise to new properties. As a workhorse, here we take a C60@lysozyme hybrid. We show that lysozyme recognizes and disperses fullerene in water. AFM, cryo-TEM and high resolution X-ray powder diffraction show that the C60 dispersion is monomolecular. The adduct is biocompatible, stable in physiological and technologically-relevant environments, and easy to store. Hybridization with lysozyme preserves the electrochemical properties of C60. EPR spin-trapping experiments show that the C60@lysozyme hybrid produces ROS following both type I and type II mechanisms. Due to the shielding effect of proteins, the adduct generates significant amounts of 1O2 also in aqueous solution. In the case of type I mechanism, the protein residues provide electrons and the hybrid does not require addition of external electron donors. The preparation process and the properties of C60@lysozyme are general and can be expected to be similar to other C60@protein systems. It is envisaged that the properties of the C60@protein hybrids will pave the way for a host of applications in nanomedicine, nanotechnology, and photocatalysis.

Fullerene C60 with cytoprotective and cytotoxic potential: prospects as a novel treatment agent in Dermatology?

It is known that an excess amount of (oxygen) radicals in the skin can lead to (local cellular) oxidative stress. From one side, oxidative stress can contribute to the existence of various (inflammatory) skin diseases such as acne vulgaris and alopecia, as well as to accelerated photo-ageing of the skin. From the other side, oxidative stress could also be a wanted process for curing particular skin diseases, such as skin cancer and microbial skin infections. Therefore, novel treatment agents with the ability to scavenge or generate radicals can potentially be meaningful in the treatment of various skin diseases, especially for those diseases that have limited effective treatment options. This viewpoint essay will discuss the potential of fullerene C₆₀ , i.e. buckminsterfullerene, derivatives as novel treatment agents in dermatology. Fullerene C₆₀ is an all carbon molecule with a unique dual ability; fullerene C₆₀ can act as a radical scavenger or as an oxygen radical generator. Hence, fullerene C₆₀ derivatives offers most interesting prospects as a therapeutic protective or therapeutic toxic agent. Because of their extraordinary physicochemical properties and numerous chemical functionalization possibilities, chemists can design derivatives with a wide scope of unique properties. The experimental data, mostly from in vitro and in vivo animal studies, on the safety and therapeutic potential of fullerene C₆₀ derivatives, in the field of dermatology will be discussed.

C60@lysozyme: a new photosensitizing agent for photodynamic therapy

C₆₀@lysozyme showed significant visible light-induced singlet oxygen generation in a physiological environment, indicating the potential of this hybrid as an agent for photodynamic therapy.

Visible Light Sensitized Production of Hydroxyl Radicals Using Fullerol as an Electron-Transfer Mediator

Fullerenes and their derivatives are known to photosensitize the production of singlet oxygen (¹O₂), but their role in generating hydroxyl radical (^•OH) under visible light has not been reported. Here, we demonstrate that fullerol can mediate the electron transfer from Rhodamine B dye to O₂ under visible light irradiation, achieving simultaneous dye decolorization and ^•OH-induced degradation of 4-chlorophenol. The hydroxyl radical is proposed to be produced via a consecutive reduction of molecular oxygen by fullerol anion radical, which is formed through the electron transfer from the dye to the triplet state of fullerol. Mechanistic investigations using various probe reagents such as superoxide dismutase (superoxide quencher), t-butanol (^•OH quencher), and coumarin (^•OH probe) provided indirect evidence for the generation of ^•OH under visible light. Furthermore, spin trapping technique directly detected the oxidizing species such as ^•OH, HO₂^•, and ¹O₂ in the visible light irradiated solution of RhB/fullerol mixture. It was proposed that the photochemical oxidation mechanism depends on pH: ^•OH production is favored at acidic pH through fullerol-mediated sequential electron transfer while ¹O₂ is generated as a main oxidant at neutral and alkaline condition through the energy-transfer process. Therefore, the photochemical oxidation can be switchable between ^•OH-driven and ¹O₂-driven mechanism by a simple pH adjustment.

Mechanisms of the Antimicrobial Activities of Graphene Materials

A thorough understanding of the antimicrobial mechanisms of graphene materials (GMs) is critical to the manipulation of highly efficient antimicrobial nanomaterials for future biomedical applications. Here we review the most recent studies of GM-mediated antimicrobial properties. This review covers the physicochemical properties of GMs, experimental surroundings, and selected microorganisms as well as the interaction between GMs and selected microorganisms to explore controversial antimicrobial activities. Finally, we rationally analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed mechanisms and provide new insights into the remaining challenges and perspectives for future studies.

Liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure photoionization-Orbitrap analysis of fullerene aggregates on surface soils and river sediments from Santa Catarina (Brazil)

In the present work, a new analytical approach is proposed for the analysis of seven fullerenes (C₆₀, C₇₀, N-methylfulleropyrrolidine, [6,6]-phenyl C₆₁ butyric acid methyl ester, [6,6]-thienyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester, C60 pyrrolidine tris-acid ethyl ester and [6,6]-phenyl C₇₁ butyric acid methyl ester fullerenes) in soils and sediments. This procedure combines an ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction (UAE) with toluene followed by liquid chromatography (LC), using a pyrenylpropyl group bonded silica based column, coupled to a high-resolution mass spectrometer (HRMS) using atmospheric pressure photoionisation (APPI) in negative ion mode. The analytical performance for fullerene separation of the pyrenylpropyl group bonded silica column was compared to the C18 column. For the ultra-trace analysis of fullerenes in complex environmental samples, the use of the APPI source and the use of the electrospray ionisation (ESI) source were compared. Using this approach for the analysis of fullerenes in complex matrices, a series of advantages, in terms of sensitivity and specificity, have been demonstrated. The method limits of detection (MLOD) and the method limits of quantification (MLOQ) in soils and sediments ranged from 0.022 to 0.39 pg/g and from 0.072 to 1.3 pg/g, respectively. Recoveries were between 68 and 106%. The analytical method was applied in order to assess the occurrence of selected fullerenes in 45 soils of Sul Catarinense (Santa Catalina State, Brazil) and 15 sediments from the Tubarão River, presenting different pressures of contamination: a coal-combustion power plant, car exhaust, coal mining industry and wastewater effluents. C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes have been detected at concentrations ranging from the MLOD to 0.150 ng/g. None of the functionalised fullerenes were detected in any of the samples. Combustion processes, in particular car exhaust, were identified as the main source of fullerenes. However, the potential degradation of residual concentrations of engineered fullerenes to more stable forms, such as C₆₀ and C₇₀, should also be considered.

RAFT synthesis of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) amine and preparation of a water-soluble C60-PVP conjugate

A well-defined C₆₀-PVP conjugate with a sufficient water-solubility was successfully synthesized by RAFT polymerization of NVP and subsequent reaction with a C₆₀ acid anhydride derivative.

Water-soluble fullerene materials for bioapplications: photoinduced reactive oxygen species generation

The photoinduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation from several water-soluble fullerenes was examined. Macromolecular or small molecular water-soluble fullerene complexes/derivatives were prepared and their ¹O₂ and O₂˙⁻ generation abilities were evaluated by ESR spin-trapping methods. As a result, efficient ¹O₂ generation was detected from photoexcited C₆₀, not only in organic solvents, but also in aqueous media and especially from small molecule C₆₀–carboxylic acid derivatives. Whereas efficient O₂˙⁻ generation was observed in the aqueous solution of the C₆₀/γ-CD complex under photoirradiation.

Effects of light energy and reducing agents on C60-mediated photosensitizing reactions

Many biomolecules contain photoactive reducing agents, such as reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and 6-thioguanine (6-TG) incorporated into DNA through drug metabolism. These reducing agents may produce reactive oxygen species under UVA irradiation or act as electron donors in various media. The interactions of C60 fullerenes with biological reductants and light energy, especially via the Type-I electron-transfer mechanism, are not fully understood although these factors are often involved in toxicity assessments. The two reductants employed in this work were NADH for aqueous solutions and 6-TG for organic solvents. Using steady-state photolysis and electrochemical techniques, we showed that under visible light irradiation, the presence of reducing agents enhanced C60 -mediated Type-I reactions that generate superoxide anion (O2(.-)) at the expense of singlet oxygen ((1)O2) production. The quantum yield of O2(.-) production upon visible light irradiation of C60 is estimated below 0.2 in dipolar aprotic media, indicating that the majority of triplet C60 deactivate via Type-II pathway. Upon UVA irradiation, however, both C60 and NADH undergo photochemical reactions to produce O2(.-), which could lead to a possible synergistic toxicity effects. C60 photosensitization via Type-I pathway is not observed in the absence of reducing agents.

Evaluation of photodynamic activity of C60/2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin nanoparticles

The objective of this study is to evaluate the ability of C(60)/2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CyD) naonparticles to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and to induce cell toxicity by the photoirradiation. C(60) nanoparticles were prepared by cogrinding with HP-β-CyD for 3 h at 4°C under reduced pressure. The photodynamic activity of C(60)/HP-β-CyD nanoparticles was evaluated by spectroscopic methods, including the electron spin resonance spin-trapping method, and by the cell viability test using Hela cells. C(60)/HP-β-CyD nanoparticles efficiently generated not only superoxide anion radical (O(2)(·-)) and hydroxyl radical (·OH), but also singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) through photoirradiation. The ROS generation was enhanced by decreasing the mean particle diameter of C(60) nanoparticles, and the particle size smaller than 90 nm showed a high generation of ·OH and (1)O(2). In addition, HP-β-CyD enhanced the generation of (1)O(2), compared with polyvinylpyrrolidone (an effective solubillizer for C(60)), due to partial disposition of C(60) in the hydrophobic CyD cavity. Furthermore, C(60) /HP-β-CyD nanoparticles showed cell toxicity after the light irradiation, but no toxicity was observed without the light irradiation. Therefore, HP-β-CyD is useful for the preparation of stable C(60) nanoparticles with high ROS generation ability, and C(60)/HP-β-CyD nanoparticles are a promising photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy.

Location of [60]fullerene incorporation in lipid membranes

We confirmed that most C(60) fullerene units are located in the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayer membrane in water-soluble lipid membrane incorporated C(60) (LMIC(60)) complexes using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and (13)C NMR spectra in the presence of radical labels.

Genotoxicity of colloidal fullerene C₆₀

Previous genotoxicity tests of aqueous fullerene C₆₀) suspension (aqu-C₆₀) yielded both positive and negative results. In the present study, aqu-C₆₀ elicited positive responses in two bacterial genotoxicity tests, the Bacillus subtilis Rec-assay and the umu test at concentrations as low as 0.048 mg/L and 0.43 mg/L, respectively. In mammalian cell experiments, aqu-C₆₀ showed a significant growth inhibitory effect on human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells at 0.46 mg/L. The level of the oxidative DNA lesion 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine, measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, was slightly but not significantly increased in HepG2 cells treated with 0.46 mg/L for 24 h, whereas the level of the lipid peroxidation-related DNA lesion α-methyl-γ-hydroxy-1,N²)-propano-2'-deoxyguanosine was not changed. Under the same conditions, we did not detect any bulky DNA adducts, as measured by ³²P-postlabeling/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. Our data suggest that aqu-C₆₀ has DNA-damaging potential and that the DNA damage is not due to covalent DNA adduct formation by C₆₀ itself.

Synergy between quantum dots and 1,10-phenanthroline-copper(II) complex towards cleaving DNA

We have found that the DNA cleaving activity of quantum dots and 1,10-phenanthroline-Cu(II) complex is significantly enhanced when they are combined.

Fast reactivity of a cyclic nitrone-calix[4]pyrrole conjugate with superoxide radical anion: theoretical and experimental studies

Nitrone spin traps have been employed as probes for the identification of transient radical species in chemical and biological systems using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and have exhibited pharmacological activity against oxidative-stress-mediated diseases. Since superoxide radical anion (O2(•-)) is a major precursor to most reactive oxygen species and calix[4]pyrroles have been shown to exhibit high affinity to anions, a cyclic nitrone conjugate of calix[4]pyrrole (CalixMPO) was designed, synthesized, and characterized. Computational studies at the PCM/B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level suggest a pendant-type linkage between the calix[4]pyrrole and the nitrone to be the most efficient design for spin trapping of O2(•-), giving exoergic reaction enthalpies (ΔH(298K,aq)) and free energies (ΔG(298K,aq)) of -16.9 and -2.1 kcal/mol, respectively. (1)H NMR study revealed solvent-dependent conformational changes in CalixMPO leading to changes in the electronic properties of the nitronyl group upon H-bonding with the pyrrole groups as also confirmed by calculations. CalixMPO spin trapping of O2(•-) exhibited robust EPR spectra. Kinetic analysis of O2(•-) adduct formation and decay in polar aprotic solvents using UV-vis stopped-flow and EPR methods gave a larger trapping rate constant for CalixMPO and a longer half-life for its O2(•-) adduct compared to the commonly used nitrones. The unusually high reactivity of CalixMPO with O2(•-) was rationalized to be due to the synergy between the α-effect and electrostatic effect by the calix[4]pyrrole moiety on O2(•-) and the nitrone, respectively. This work demonstrates for the first time the application of an anion receptor for the detection of one of the most important radical intermediates in biological and chemical systems (i.e., O2(•-)).