Direct Through-Space Substituent-π Interactions in Noncovalent Arene-Fullerene Assemblies

The arene-arene interactions between electron-rich and deficient aromatics have been less understood. Herein, we focus on a [60]fullerene π-surface as an electron-deficient aromatics. Using a 1H signal of H2O@C60 as a magnetic probe, the presence of benzene-fullerene interactions was confirmed. To investigate substituent effects on the noncovalent arene-fullerene interactions, NMR titration experiments were carried out using an open-[60]fullerene and a series of substituted benzenes, i. e., PhX (X=NO2, CN, Cl, OMe, H, CH3, and NH2), demonstrating a 1 : 2 stoichiometry with a positive correlation between stabilization energies upon the first association (ΔG1) and Hammet constants (σm). The destabilization of the self-assembled structure for X=OMe with a σ-withdrawing nature clearly showed direct through-space substituent-π interactions describable by the Wheeler-Houk model while the second association was suggested to be considerably perturbed by the secondary effects.

Antibacterial efficacy of NanoCare, Fullerene (C60) activated by UV light, and Morinda Oleifera against S.Mutans and bond integrity of composite resin to caries affected dentin

AIM

Assessment of the impact of contemporary disinfection techniques Moringa Oleifera (M. Oleifera), NanoCare Plus Silver Gold® (Nanocare), and Fullerene (C60) on survival rates of S.Mutans and shear bond strength (SBS) of composite to the carious affected dentin (CAD) MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty mandibular molars having caries progression till the middle 1/3rd of the dentin were disinfected. The CAD surface of twenty samples was inoculated with S.mutans. Based on different disinfection regimens samples were arbitrarily assigned to four groups (n:15) Group 1: 2 % CHX, Group 2:NanoCare, Group 3:Fullerene (C60), and Group 4 (M. Oleifera. This was followed by calculating the survival rate of S.mutans. Ten samples from each group were then restored with composite restoration and thermocycled. Assessment of SBS and failure mode was performed using a universal testing machine and stereomicroscope at 40X magnification. Statistical significance among groups was assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test at a significance level of p = 0.05 RESULTS: Group 2 samples treated with NanoCare exhibited the lowest survival rate (0.39 ± 0.02 CFU/ml) of S.Mutans. However, Group 1 (CHX) samples exhibited the highest survival count (0.51±0.10 CFU/ml). Furthermore, the highest composite to CAD bond was observed in Group 3 Fullerene(C60) (18.44±0.25 MPa) samples and the lowest SBS was observed in Group 1 (CHX) (12.48±1.69 MPa) CONCLUSION: Fullerene(C60) and Moringa Oleifera extract hold promise as potential substitutes for chlorhexidine (CHX) in clinical applications, offering the potential for improved S.Mutans elimination and enhanced bond strength to CAD surface.

Integrating Levels of Hierarchical Organization in Porous Organic Molecular Materials

Porous organic molecular materials (POMMs) are an emergent class of molecular-based materials characterized by the formation of extended porous frameworks, mainly held by non-covalent interactions. POMMs represent a variety of chemical families, such as hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks, porous organic salts, porous organic cages, C - H⋅⋅⋅π microporous crystals, supramolecular organic frameworks, π-organic frameworks, halogen-bonded organic framework, and intrinsically porous molecular materials. In some porous materials such as zeolites and metal organic frameworks, the integration of multiscale has been adopted to build materials with multifunctionality and optimized properties. Therefore, considering the significant role of hierarchy in porous materials and the growing importance of POMMs in the realm of synthetic porous materials, we consider it appropriate to dedicate for the first time a critical review covering both topics. Herein, we will provide a summary of literature examples showcasing hierarchical POMMs, with a focus on their main synthetic approaches, applications, and the advantages brought forth by introducing hierarchy.

Preferential formation of stereocomplex crystals in poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(D-lactic acid) blends by a fullerene nucleator

Selective formation of stereocomplex (sc) crystallization in enantiomeric poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(D-lactic acid) (PLLA/PDLA) blends is considered as one of the most effective and promising way to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of polylactide (PLA) materials. However, homocrystallization (hc) prevails over sc crystallization in high-molecular-weight (HMW) PLLA/PDLA blends. Herein, we propose a simple and straightforward approach for fabricating sc crystallization and suppress hc crystallization for HMW PLLA/PDLA blends through the addition of C70 as a nucleator. Non-isothermal crystallization and wide-angel X-ray diffraction studies demonstrate that, the incorporation of 1 wt% C70 overwhelmingly leads to the formation of sc crystallites, while preventing the formation of hc crystallites. Isothermal crystallization experiments at 140 °C reveal a significant reduction in the half-crystallization period of the PLLA/PDLA blend upon the addition of C70. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy suggests that, the improved intermolecular interactions between PLLA and PDLA chains, as well as the inhibition of molecular chain diffusion and mobility, contribute to the accelerated formation of sc facilitated by C70. The enhanced sc crystallization results in a 15.5 °C higher thermal stability in the as-prepared PLLA/PDLA blend with 1 wt% C70 compared to the neat counterpart.

Effects of electron transport layer type on the performance of Pb-free Cs2AgBiBr6 double perovskites: a SCAPS-1D solar simulator-based study

Recently, due to the superior stability and lower risk of toxicity, the development of Pb-free halide double perovskite materials has revived excellent interest. In this work, Pb-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with ITO/ETL/Cs2AgBiBr6/Cu2O/Au multilayer structures with Cs2AgBiBr6 double perovskite as the solar light absorber layer, some electron transport layers (ETLs) and Cu2O as a hole transport layer have been introduced. Then, the effects of various thicknesses of the absorber layer and also ETL materials, like ZnO, C60, CdS, SnO2, phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), and TiO2, on the device performance (including photoelectronic conversion efficiency (PCE), fill factor (FF%), short circuit current density (Jsc), and open-circuit voltage (VOC)) were examined with the help of a solar cell simulator (SCAPS-1D). It is noteworthy that, in the case of all ETL materials, the optimal thickness of the absorber layer was determined to be 400 nm. Then, the maximum PCE values of 20.08%, 17.63%, 14.07%, 12.11%, 14.94%, and 18.83% were obtained for the solar cells containing ZnO, C60, CdS, SnO2, PCBM, and TiO2 as the ETL, respectively. These results show that designing/developing Pb-free halide double perovskite devices having comparable PCEs with the Pb-based PSCs is feasible, provided that proper/compatible materials will be used in the multilayer structure of the next generations of solar cells.

Supramolecular Subphthalocyanine Cage as Catalytic Container for the Functionalization of Fullerenes in Water

Herein we report the first example of a supramolecular cage that works as a catalytic molecular reactor to perform transformations over fullerenes in aqueous medium. Taking advantage of the ability of metallo-organic Pd(II)-subphthalocyanine (SubPc) capsules to form stable host:guest complexes with C60 , we have prepared a water-soluble cage that provides a hydrophobic environment for conducting cycloadditions over encapsulated C60 , namely, Diels-Alder reactions with anthracene. Indeed, the presence of catalytic amounts of SubPc cage dissolved in water promotes co-encapsulation of insoluble C60 and anthracene substrates, allowing the reaction to occur inside the cavity under mild conditions. The lower stability of the host:guest complex with the resulting C60 cycloadduct facilitates its displacement by pristine C60 , which grants catalytic turnover. Moreover, bis-addition compounds are regioselectively formed inside the cage when using excess anthracene.

Few-Layer Fullerene Network for Photocatalytic Pure Water Splitting into H2 and H2 O2

A few-layer fullerene network possesses several advantageous characteristics, including a large surface area, abundant active sites, high charge mobility, and an appropriate band gap and band edge for solar water splitting. Herein, we report for the first time that the few-layer fullerene network shows interesting photocatalytic performance in pure water splitting into H2 and H2 O2 in the absence of any sacrificial reagents. Under optimal conditions, the H2 and H2 O2 evolution rates can reach 91 and 116 μmol g-1  h-1 , respectively, with good stability. This work demonstrates the novel application of the few-layer fullerene network in the field of energy conversion.

A potential hybrid nanocomposite of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and fullerene for bone tissue regeneration and sustained drug release against bone infections

Developing a multifunctional biomaterial for bone filling and local antibiotic therapy is a complex challenge for bone tissue engineering. Hybrid nanocomposites of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBHV) with nanohydroxyapatite (nHA), fullerene (C60), and vancomycin (VC) were produced by injection. Fullerene was successfully impregnated with VC, as seen in FTIR. The crystallinity degree of PHBHV was slightly reduced in the presence of C60 and VC (64.3 versus 60.8 %), due to the plasticizing effect of these particles. It also resulted in a decrease in the glass transition temperature (Tg), observed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Dense PHBHV/nHA/C60/VC had a flexural elastic modulus 29 % higher than PHBHV, as a result of the good interface between PHBHV, C60, and nHA - particles of high elastic modulus. Dense disks released 25.03 ± 4.27 % of VC for 14 days, which demonstrated its potential to be an alternative treatment to bone infections. Porous scaffolds of PHBHV/nHA/C60/VC were 3D printed with a porosity of 50 % and porous size of 467 ± 70 μm, and had compression elastic modulus of 0.022 GPa, being a promising material to trabecular bone replacement. The plasticizing effect of C60 improved the printability of the material. The hybrid nanocomposite was non-cytotoxic and showed good ability in adhering macrophage cells.

Fullerene [60] encapsulated water-soluble supramolecular cage for prevention of oxidative stress-induced myocardial injury

A water-soluble cube-like supramolecular cage was constructed by an engagement of six molecules through a hydrophobic effect in the water. The obtained cage could perfectly encapsulate one fullerene C₆₀ molecule inside of the cavity and significantly improve the water-solubility of the C₆₀ without changing the original structure. The water-soluble complex was further applied to reduce the reactive oxygen species (R.O.S.) in cardiomyocytes (FMC84) through Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Furthermore, in the mouse model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, the application of C₆₀ was found to be effective in reducing myocardial injury and improving cardiac function. It also reduced the levels of R.O.S. in myocardial tissue, inhibited myocardial apoptosis, and mitigated myocardial inflammatory responses. The present study provides a new guideline for constructing water-soluble C₆₀ and verifies the important role of C₆₀ in preventing oxidative stress-related cardiovascular disease injury.

Uncovering nanotoxicity of a water-soluble and red-fluorescent [70]fullerene nanomaterial

Engineered fullerene materials have attracted the attention of researchers in the biomedical sciences, especially when their synthetic methodology is developed to endow them with significant levels of water-solubility and bioavailability. In this study, we synthesized and characterized a water-soluble and red-fluorescent [70]fullerene nanomaterial, which fluoresced at 693 nm with a quantum yield of 0.065 and a large Stokes shift (around 300 nm). The fullerene nanomaterial generated mainly singlet oxygen after illumination with blue LED light, while superoxide anion radical production was minimal. The transmission electron microscopy as well as fluorescent studies of Drosophila melanogaster revealed that prepared [70]fullerene nanoparticles had better bioavailability than pristine [70]fullerene nanoparticles. The designed nanomaterials were observed in the apical, perinuclear, and basal regions of digestive cells, as well as the basal lamina of the digestive system's epithelium, with no damage to cell organelles and no activation of degenerative processes and cell death. Our findings provide a new perspective for understanding the in vivo behavior of fullerene nanomaterials and their future application in bioimaging and light-activated nanotherapeutics.

In-silico study: docking simulation and molecular dynamics of peptidomimetic fullerene-based derivatives against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro

COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, has become a global pandemic resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. This study presents 12 new peptidomimetic fullerene-based derivatives in three groups that are investigated theoretically as SARS-CoV-2 M^pro inhibitors to increase the chance of treating COVID-19. Studied compounds are designed and optimized at B88-LYP/DZVP method. Molecular descriptors results show the stability and reactivity of the compounds with M^pro, especially in the 3rd group (Ser compounds). However, Lipinski's Rule of Five values indicates that the compounds are not suitable as oral drugs. Furthermore, molecular docking simulations are carried out to investigate the binding affinity and interaction modes of the top five compounds (compounds 1, 9, 11, 2, and 10) with the M^pro protein, which have the lowest binding energy. Molecular dynamics simulations are also performed to evaluate the stability of the protein-ligand complexes with compounds 1 and 9 and compare them with natural substrate interaction. The analysis of RMSD, H-bonds, Rg, and SASA indicates that both compounds 1 (Gly-α acid) and 9 (Ser-α acid) have good stability and strong binding affinity with the M^pro protein. However, compound 9 shows slightly better stability and binding affinity compared to compound 1.

Effect of Flexible Spacer and Alkyl Tail Length on the Liquid Crystalline Phase Behavior of Fullerene Block Molecules

We investigated here the supramolecular liquid crystalline (LC) phase behavior of a series of fullerene block molecules with regard to spacer length, alkyl tail length and temperature. These compounds exhibit several lamellar LC phases with different packings of the self-organized fullerene two-dimensional (2D) crystals. With a short hexamethylene spacer, they form sandwich-like structures with triple or quadruple fullerene layers. By increasing spacer length to 10 or 12 carbons long, a composite layers-in-lamella superlattice structure with alternating soft hydrocarbon single layers and fullerene single or double layers was obtained. As the molecular configurational freedom between incompatible moieties is enhanced by the elongated spacer, the required cross-sectional fullerene-to-hydrocarbon ratio for the superlattice could be achieved despite of different volume fractions of the blocks. The superlattice phase range is efficiently widened by the design principle of constructing LC molecules with a long spacer, which also provides a facile way to tailor novel superstructures.

Nanoantibiotic effect of carbon-based nanocomposites: epicentric on graphene, carbon nanotubes and fullerene composites: a review

Carbon in many different forms especially, Graphene, Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and Fullerene is emerging as an important material in the areas of the biomedical field for various applications. This review comprehensively describes the nano antibiotic effect of carbon-based nanocomposites: epicenter on graphene, carbon nanotubes, and fullerene Composites. It summarises the studies conducted to evaluate their antimicrobial applications as they can disrupt the cell membrane of bacteria resulting in cell death. The initial section gives a glimpse of both "Gram"-positive and negative bacteria, which have been affected by Graphene, CNTs, and Fullerene-based nanocomposites. These bacteria include Staphylococcus Aureus, Bacillus Thuringiensis, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebseilla pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Pseudomonas syringae , Shigella flexneri,Candida Albicans, Mucor. Another section is dedicated to the insight of Graphene, and its types such as Graphene Oxide (GO), Reduced graphene oxide (rGO), Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs), Graphene Nanoribbons (GNRs), and Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs). Insight into CNT, including both the types SWCNT and MWCNT, studied, followed by understanding fullerene is also reported. Another section is dedicated to the antibacterial mechanism of Graphene, CNT, and Fullerene-based nanocomposites. Further, an additional section is dedicated to a comprehensive review of the antibacterial characteristics of Graphene, CNT, and nanocomposites based on fullerene. Future perspectives and recommendations have also been highlighted in the last section.

In situ forming ROS-scavenging hybrid hydrogel loaded with polydopamine-modified fullerene nanocomposites for promoting skin wound healing

BACKGROUND

Excessive oxidative stress at the wound sites always leads to a prolonged healing and even causes chronic inflammatory wounds. Therefore, antioxidative dressings with multiple features are desired to improve wound healing performance. Herein, we fabricated a ROS-scavenging hybrid hydrogel by incorporating mussel-inspired fullerene nanocomposites (C60@PDA) into gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel.

RESULTS

The developed C60@PDA/GelMA hydrogel showed a sustainable free radical scavenging ability, and eliminated ROS to protect cells against external oxidative stress damage. Besides, the hydrogel presented favorable cytocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and antibacterial ability in vitro. Furthermore, in a mouse full-thickness wound defect model, the in situ forming hybrid hydrogel accelerated wound closure by 38.5% and 42.9% on day 3 and day 7 over the control. Histological results demonstrated that hybrid hydrogels effectively enhanced wound healing on re-epithelialization, collagen deposition and angiogenesis.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, the C60@PDA/GelMA hydrogel could be a promising dressing for promoting cutaneous wound repair.

Electrochemical sensors for the determination of 4-ethylguaiacol in wine

The development of an electrochemical procedure for the determination of 4-ethylguaiacol and its application to wine analysis is described. Modified screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) with fullerene C₆₀ (C₆₀) have been shown to be efficient in this kind of analysis. The developed activated C₆₀/SPCEs (AC₆₀/SPCEs) were adequate for the determination of 4-ethylguaicol, showing a linear range from 200 to 1000 µg/L, a reproducibility of 7.6% and a capability of detection (CC_β) value of 200 µg/L, under optimized conditions. The selectivity of the AC₆₀/SPCE sensors was evaluated in the presence of possibly interfering compounds, and their practical applicability was demonstrated  in the analysis of different wine samples obtaining recoveries ranging from 96 to 106%.

An Organic Molecular Nanobarrel that Hosts and Solubilizes C60

Organic cages have gained increasing attention in recent years as molecular hosts and porous materials. Among these, barrel-shaped cages or molecular nanobarrels are promising systems to encapsulate large hosts as they possess windows of the same size as their internal cavity. However, these systems have received little attention and remain practically unexplored despite their potential. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a new trigonal prismatic organic nanobarrel with two large triangular windows with a diameter of 12.7 Å optimal for the encapsulation of C₆₀ . Remarkably, this organic nanobarrel shows a high affinity for C₆₀ in solvents in which C₆₀ is virtually insoluble, providing stable solutions of C₆₀ .

Fullerene derivatives as inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease

COVID-19 is an ongoing worldwide pandemic. Even today, there is a need for the development of effective therapeutic agents. SARS-CoV-2 is known as the causative virus of COVID-19, and its main protease is one of the enzymes essential for its growth and is considered a drug discovery target. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory activities of a variety of fullerene derivatives, including newly synthesized derivatives, against the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. As a result, the malonic acid-type fullerene derivatives showed the strongest inhibitory activity.

Novel BODIPY-Fluorene-Fullerene and BODIPY-Fluorene-BODIPY Conjugates: Synthesis, Characterization, Photophysical and Photochemical Properties

Two new BODIPY-fluorene-fullerene (3) and BODIPY-fluorene-BODIPY (4) conjugates were designed, synthesized, and characterized for the first time. The structural properties of compounds were investigated with elemental analysis, mass, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR techniques. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to examine the photophysical (absorption and emission profiles, fluorescence quantum yields, and lifetimes) and photochemical (formation of singlet oxygen (¹O₂)) properties. It was observed that the novel compounds (3) and (4) showed high molar extinction coefficients and good ¹O₂ quantum yields. ¹O₂ formation ability of the BODIPY-fluorene-fullerene conjugate (3) was more efficient than that of the BODIPY-fluorene-BODIPY conjugate (4). Furthermore, photosensitization ability of both conjugate systems was more remarkable than some commonly used BODIPY based photosensitizers. The data presented in this work indicate that these two novel systems are effective ¹O₂ photosensitizers that might be used for various areas of applications such as photodynamic therapy and photocatalysis.

Open-Cage Fullerene as Molecular Container for F- , Cl- , Br- and I. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022;61:e202212090. [PMID: 36316627 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202212090]

A 19-membered open-cage fullerene derivative was prepared from C₆₀ in 7 steps and 5.5 % yield through the peroxide-mediate pathway. There are four carbonyl groups, an ether oxygen and a quinoxaline moiety on the rim of the orifice. A chloride anion could be inserted into its cavity by heating with hydrochloric acid at 60 °C for 4 h. Encapsulation of fluoride, bromide and iodide anions was also achieved at slightly more forcing conditions, 90 °C for 14 h. Single crystal X-ray structures of the sodium salt of the chloride and the bromide encapsulated derivatives were obtained, which showed the halide anion in the center of the cavity and two sodium cations connecting two cages through coordination to the oxygen atoms on the rim of the orifices. The halide encapsulation ratio is quantitative in the isolated products.

Tetrazine Linkers as Plug-and-Play Tags for General Metal-Organic Framework Functionalization and C60 Conjugation

The value of covalent post-synthetic modification in expanding the chemistry and pore versatility of reticular solids is well documented. Here we use mesoporous crystals of the metal-organic framework (MOF) UiO-68-TZDC to demonstrate the value of tetrazine connectors for all-purpose inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder ligation chemistry. Our results suggest a positive effect of tetrazine reticulation over its reactivity for quantitative one-step functionalization with a broad scope of alkene or alkyne dienophiles into pyridazine and dihydropyridazine frameworks. This permits generating multiple pore environments with diverse chemical functionalities and the expected accessible porosities, that is also extended to the synthesis of crystalline fulleretic materials by covalent conjugation of fullerene molecules.

Electrochemical biosensor based on three components random conjugated polymer with fullerene (C60)

Herein, a conjugated polymer and fullerene bearing architecture-based electrochemical Tyrosinase (Tyr) enzyme inhibition biosensor for indomethacin (INDO) drug active compound has been developed. For this purpose, three moieties of benzoxadiazole, thienopyrroledione, and benzodithiophene containing conjugated polymer; poly[BDT-alt-(TP;BO)] was used as a transducer modifier together with fullerene for catechol detection. The specific combination of these materials is considered an effective way to fabricate highly sensitive and fast response catechol biosensors for the first time. Electrochemical and surface characteristics of the modified electrodes were obtained by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The effect of the parameters during chronoamperometric measurements on the biosensor response was also studied. Using optimized conditions, biosensing of catechol was achieved between 0.5 and 62.5 µM with a limit of the detection 0.11 µM. Tyr inhibition was followed with INDO drug active compound and it was found that INDO has a mixed type characteristic of enzyme kinetics with an I₅₀ value of 15.11 µM.

Facile construction of fluorescent C70-COOH nanoparticles with advanced antibacterial and anti-biofilm photodynamic activity

Photodynamic antibacterial therapy has been considered as one of the most promising treatments to alleviate the spread of multidrug resistant bacterial pathogens. Given the hypoxic environment of infectious tissues, photosensitizers with reduced oxygen-demand could exhibit superiority upon irradiation. Herein reported is a novel C₇₀-based photosensitizers synthesized by the facile one-step thiol-ene reaction. Various characterization techniques were employed to confirm the structural, photoluminescent properties, photostability and biocompatibility of the as-synthesized C₇₀-COOH nanoparticles. Furthermore, they were capable of efficiently producing reactive oxygen species following both the type I and II mechanistic pathways, thus still generating adequate free radicals under hypoxic condition. Therefore, they could approach and destroy the bacterial cell membrane in the presence of visible light, thereby causing cytoplasmic leakage and eventually achieving broad-spectrum inactivation of four representative bacterial strains. Especially, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were completely eliminated after merely 10 minutes irradiation, and the formation of its corresponding biofilm were also greatly inhibited by C₇₀-COOH nanoparticles. These results provide new insights and opportunities for the development of hypoxia-tolerant fullerene-based photosensitizers to combat multidrug resistant bacterial and related infections.

Advances in preparation, mechanism and applications of various carbon materials in environmental applications: A review

Carbon-related materials are now widely investigated in a various industrial field due to their excellent and unique qualities. It must be tailored to the application in such a way that it fits the application. At the same time, it needs to be generated in sufficient quantities for commercial use, and the synthesis method is the major sticking point here. Because most new materials are discovered by chance, the synthesis process described here may not be the most effective way to create them. The research is merely a steppingstone to discovering a different approach, and it will continue until the substance is no longer being used. If you're developing materials for any purpose, synthesis processes are essential. Fullerene, carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene, and MXene are only a few of the carbon-based compounds discussed in this overview study, which also gives a brief prognosis on the materials future. Furthermore, the environmental application of these carbon materials was discussed and commented.

Voltammetric sensor based on glassy carbon electrode modified with hierarchical porous carbon, silver sulfide nanoparticles and fullerene for electrochemical monitoring of nitrite in food samples

This paper reports the development of a voltammetric sensor using glassy carbon electrode based on hierarchical porous carbon (HPC) with silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag₂SNP), Nafion and fullerene (C₆₀) for the determination of nitrite in foods. Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray were used to characterize the morphology and composition of the materials. The use of HPC and C₆₀ in the construction of the electrode contributed toward the enlargement of the specific surface area and the improvement of the electrochemical performance of the device. The electrochemical behavior of nitrite in different electrodes was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry in the potential range of 0.4 - 1 V. Using the optimal conditions, a linear response ranges of 4.0- 148 μmol L^-1, a limit of detection of 0.09 μmol L^-1 and a sensitivity of 0.05 μAμmol L^-1 cm^-2 were obtained. The results showed that the proposed method can selectively detect nitrite in the presence of other compounds without interference and with good stability. The proposed method was successfully applied for the detection of nitrite in food samples where it demonstrated a good degree of accuracy and satisfactory efficiency.

Synthesis of n-Type [60]Fullerene Derivatives with Sterically Bulky tert-Butyl Groups for Vacuum Deposition Processes

[60]Fullerene derivatives with high thermal stability can be used for  vacuum deposition   under heating to fabricate thin films for organic electronic devices. Here we investigated the thermal stability of [60]fullerene derivatives   with various bulky substituents for thermal  evaporation under vacuum by means of thermogravimetric analysis under reduced and normal pressure. We found sterically bulky groups such as  tert -butyl groups of [60]fullerene derivatives lowered the vacuum deposition temperature. Also, we performed isothermal thermogravimetric analysis   to examine the long-term thermal stability of the designed compounds under heating conditions. Furthermore,  we investigated the UV-Vis absorption patterns of the deposited films. Absorption in the blue wavelength range, which was attributed to intermolecular HOMO-LUMO transitions among the molecular orbitals of adjacent [60]fullerenes, was dramatically modified. These results were associated with the prevention of aggregation among neighboring [60]fullerene by the sterically bulky groups. This concept could contribute to expanding the use of evaporable [60]fullerene derivatives in organic thin-film electronics research fields.

Fabrication and Molecular Modeling of Navette-Shaped Fullerene Nanorods Using Tobacco Mosaic Virus as a Nanotemplate

To date, metallization studies have been performed with the nanometer-scale template, Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV). Here we show that fullerenes as well can be deposited on TMV coat protein in a controlled manner. Two methods were followed for the coating process. First, underivatized fullerene was dispersed in different solvents to bring the underivatized fullerene and wild-type TMV together. Improved depositions were obtained with the fullerene dicarboxylic derivative synthesized via the Bingel method. The form of the coating was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Our results demonstrate that the coating efficiency with the carboxy derivative was much better compared to the underivatized fullerene. The goal of coupling a carbon nanoparticle to a biological molecule, the viral coat of TMV, was achieved with the carboxy derivative of fullerene, resulting in the production of navette-shaped nanorods. The interactions between carboxyfullerenes and TMV were investigated through modeling with computational simulations and Gaussian-based density functional theory (DFT) calculations using the Gaussian09 program package. The theoretical calculations supported the experimental findings. This inexpensive and untroublesome method promises new fullerene hybrid nanomaterials in particular shapes and structures.

Selective population of triplet excited states in heavy-atom-free BODIPY-C60 based molecular assemblies

Photophysical studies on a BODIPY-fullerene-distyryl BODIPY triad (BDP-C₆₀-DSBDP) and its reference dyads (BODIPY-fullerene; BDP-C₆₀ and distyryl BODIPY-fullerene; DSBDP-C₆₀) are presented herein. In the triad, the association of the two chromophore units linked by a fullerene moiety leads to strong near UV-Visible light absorption from 300 to 700 nm. The triplet-excited state was observed upon visible excitation in all these assemblies, and shown to be localized on the C₆₀ or BODIPY moieties. Using quantitative nanosecond transient absorption, we provide a complete investigation on the lifetime and formation quantum yield of the triplet-excited state. In the BDP-C₆₀ dyad, the triplet excited state of C₆₀ (τ = 7 ± 1 μs) was obtained with a quantum yield of 40 ± 8%. For the DSBDP-C₆₀ dyad and BDP-C₆₀-DSBDP triad, a longer-lived triplet excited state with a lifetime of around 250 ± 20 μs centered on the DSBDP moiety was formed, with respective quantum yields of 37 ± 8 and 20 ± 4%. Triplet-triplet annihilation up-conversion is characterized in the BDP-C₆₀ dyad and the bichromophoric triad in the presence of perylene and DSBDP-monomer as respective annihilators. The photo-induced formation of a long-lived ³DSBDP* in the triad coupled with panchromatic light absorption offers potential applications as a heavy-atom-free organic triplet photosensitizer.

Fullerene binding effects in Al(III)/Zn(II) Porphyrin/Phthalocyanine photophysical properties and charge transport

We evaluate the fullerene C₆₀ binding effect; through the metal (Al) and through the ligand (Pc,TPP), on the photophysical and charge transport properties of M-porphyrin(TPP)/phthalocyanine(Pc) (M = Al(III), Zn(II)). We perform density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations for the macrocycle-C₆₀ dyads, showing that all systems studied are thermodynamically favorable. The C₆₀ binding effect on the absorption spectrum is a red-shift of the Q and Soret (B) bands of TPPs and Pcs. The Pc-dyads show longer λ for Q bands (673 nm) than those with TPP (568 nm). AlTPP-C₆₀ and ZnTPP-C₆₀ show a more favorable electron injection to TiO₂ than the analogs Pcs, and the regeneration of the dye is preferred in AlTPP-C₆₀ and AlPc-C₆₀. Zero-bias conductance is computed (10^-4-10^-7 G₀) for the dyads using molecular junctions with Au(111)-based electrodes. When a bias voltage of around 0.6 V up to 1 V is applied, an increase in current is obtained for AlTPP-C₆₀ (10^-7 A), ZnTPP-C₆₀ (10^-7 A), and AlPc-C₆₀ (10^-8 A). Although there is not a unique trend in the behavior of the dyads, Pcs have better photophysical properties than TPPs and the latter are better in the charge transport. We conclude that AlTPP(ZnTPP)-C₆₀ dyads are an excellent alternative for designing new materials for dye-sensitized solar cells or optoelectronic devices.

Metal oxide nanocage as drug delivery systems for Favipiravir, as an effective drug for the treatment of COVID-19: a computational study

This paper is a summary of research that looks at the potential of fullerene-like (MO)₁₂ nanoclusters (NCs) in drug-carrying systems using density functional theory. Favipiravir/Zn₁₂O₁₂ (− 34.80 kcal/mol), Favipiravir/Mg₁₂O₁₂ (− 34.98 kcal/mol), and Favipiravir/Be₁₂O₁₂ (− 30.22 kcal/mol) were rated in order of drug adsorption degrees. As a result, Favipiravir attachment to (MgO)₁₂ and (ZnO)₁₂ might be simple, increasing Favipiravir loading efficiency. In addition, the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) assessment was utilized to look at the interactions between molecules. The FMO, ESP, NBO, and E_ads reactivity patterns were shown to be in excellent agreement with the QTAIM data. The electrostatic properties of the system with the biggest positive charge on the M atom and the largest E_ads were shown to be the best. This system was shown to be the best attraction site for nucleophilic agents. The findings show that (MgO)₁₂ and (ZnO)₁₂ have great carrier potential and may be used in medication delivery.

DNA condensation and formation of ultrathin nanosheets via DNA assisted self-assembly of an amphiphilic fullerene derivative

DNA nanotechnology propose various assembly strategies to develop novel functional nanostructures utilizing unique interactions of DNA with small molecules, nanoparticles, polymers, and other biomolecules. Although, well defined nanostructures of DNA and amphiphilic small molecules were achieved through hybridization of covalently modified DNA, attaining precise organization of functional moieties through non-covalent interactions remain as a challenging task. Herein, we report mutually assisted assembly of an amphiphilic fullerene derivative and various DNA structures through non-covalent interactions, which leads to initial DNA condensation and subsequent assembly yielding ordered fullerene-DNA nanosheets. The molecular design of the cationic, amphiphilic fullerene derivative (FPy) ensures molecular solubility in the 10% DMSO-PBS buffer system and facile interactions with DNA through groove binding and electrostatic interactions of fullerene moiety and positively charged pyridinium moiety, respectively. The formation of FPy/DNA nanostructures were thoroughly investigated in the presence of λ-DNA, pBR322 plasmid DNA, and single and double stranded 20-mer oligonucleotides using UV-visible spectroscopy, AFM and TEM analysis. λ-DNA and pBR322 plasmid DNA readily condense in presence of FPy leading to micrometer sized few layer nanosheets with significant crystallinity due to ordered arrangement of fullerenes. Similarly, single and double stranded 20-mer oligonucleotides also interact efficiently with FPy and form highly crystalline nanosheets, signifying the role of electrostatic interaction and subsequent charge neutralization in the condensation triggered assembly. However, there is significant differences in the crystallinity and ordered arrangements of fullerenes between these two cases, where longer DNA form condensed structures and less ordered nanosheets while short oligonucleotides lead to more ordered and highly crystalline nanosheets, which could be attributed to the differential DNA condensation. Finally, we have demonstrated the addressability of the assembly using a cyanine modified single strand DNA, which also forms highly crystalline nanosheets and exhibit efficient quenching of the cyanine fluorescence upon self-assembly. These results open up new prospects in the development of functional DNA nanostructures through non-covalent interactions and hence have potential applications in the context of DNA nanotechnology.

The study of boron-nitride nanotube behavior as an atomic nano-pump for biomedicine applications

Complex physical and chemical interactions take place in drug delivery using nanotube structures. Various descriptions of the ultrastructural arrangement to various nanotube design features ranging from geometries to surface modifications on the nano levels have been put forward. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations were applied to understand the boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) performance for drug delivery applications. Here, we have carried out the molecular dynamic (MD) simulation using the Tersoff force field to obtaining optimum performance of BNNT and fullerene molecules for the first time. The result of the equilibrated system accomplished excellent stability of BNNT during MD simulation, which proves the appropriateness of chosen force field. Furthermore, to describe the BNNT nano pumping process, we have calculated the fullerene molecule's velocity and translational/rotational kinetic energy. Numerically, by increasing simulated structures' temperature from 275 to 350 K, the nano pumping time varies from 9.31 to 8.55 ps. Moreover, the outcoming results indicate that atomic wave production in BNNT is an essential parameter for the nano pumping process. Therefore, with the help of the simulation result, we succeed in decreasing the nano pumping time to 7.79 ps by adjusting the nano pumping process parameters. Our study revealed the molecular-level dispersion mechanism of BNNT as a drug delivery tool. Concerning the medical applications of fullerenes as drug molecules, including antiviral activity, antioxidant activity, and drug delivery use, the current study can shed light on the understanding of the dispersion of nanotubes to optimize the process for several biomedical applications.

Ca functionalized N-doped porphyrin-like porous C60 as an efficient material for storage of molecular hydrogen

It is widely known that decorating metal atoms on defective carbon nanomaterials is a useful approach to enhance the hydrogen storage capacity of these systems. Herein, density functional theory calculations are used to determine the H₂ storage capacity of Ca functionalized nitrogen incorporated defective C₆₀ fullerenes (Ca₆C₂₄N₂₄). The strong binding, uniform distribution, and significant positive charges of the Ca atoms make this system effective material for storage of H₂. Ca₆C₂₄N₂₄ may adsorb a maximum of 6 hydrogen molecules per Ca atom, yielding a total gravimetric density of 7.7 wt %.

Influence of donor-acceptor groups on the electrical and optical properties of C50 fullerene

In this research, the C₅₀ fullerene was employed as the source of the π electrons and the electron donor-acceptor groups were used to enhance its optical properties. Considerable enhancement in its electronic and optical property of C₅₀ as the result of donor and acceptor group presence was observed. For instance, in UV-Visible absorption spectrum, the number of absorption lines significantly increase which may be the relaxation of the electronic transition selection rules. Considerably, the substituted forms of C₅₀, have numbers of absorption bands in near infrared region. The BH₂-C₅₀-NCH₃Li and NO-C₅₀-NCH₃Li molecules have superior improvement in optical properties. Finally, the donor and acceptor groups influence on non-linear optical properties (NLO) of C₅₀ was explored and the considerable improvement in NLO properties of C₅₀ was observed in which the NLO improvements for BH₂-C₅₀-NCH₃Li and NO-C₅₀-CH₂Li cases is higher than others.

Nanoparticles of water-soluble dyads based on amino acid fullerene C60 derivatives and pyropheophorbide: Synthesis, photophysical properties, and photodynamic activity

Synthesis, spectral properties, and photodynamic activity of water-soluble amino acid fullerene C₆₀ derivatives (AFD) and four original AFD-PPa dyads, obtained by covalent addition of dye pyropheophorbide (PPa) to AFD, were studied. In aqueous solution, these AFD-PPa dyads form nanoassociates as a result of self-assembly. In this case, a significant change in the absorption spectra and strong quenching of the dye fluorescence in the structure of the dyads were observed. A comparison of superoxide or singlet oxygen generation efficiency of the studied compounds in an aqueous solution showed the photodynamic mechanism switching from type II (singlet oxygen generation of the native dye) to I type (superoxide generation of dyads). All dyads have pronounced phototoxicity on cells Hela with IC₅₀ 9.2 µM, 9.2 µM, 12.2 µM for dyads Val-C₆₀-PPa, Ala-C₆₀-PPa and Pro-C₆₀-PPa, respectively. Such facilitation of type I photodynamic mechanism could be perspective against hypoxic tumors.

Initiating Electron Transfer in Doubly-curved Nanographene Upon Supramolecular Complexation of C60

The formation of supramolecular complexes between C₆₀ and a molecular nanographene endowed with both positive and negative curvatures is described. The presence of a corannulene moiety and the saddle shape of the molecular nanographene allows the formation of complexes with 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 stoichiometries. The association constants for the three possible supramolecular complexes were determined by ¹H NMR titration. Furthermore, the stability of the three complexes was calculated by theoretical methods that also predict the photoinduced electron transfer from the curved nanographene to the electron acceptor C₆₀. Time‐resolved transient absorption measurements on the ns‐time scale showed that the addition of C₆₀ to NG‐1 solutions and photo‐exciting them at 460 nm leads to the solvent‐dependent formation of new species, in particular the formation of the one‐electron reduced form of C₆₀ in benzonitrile was observed.

Nanoarchitectonics for Analytical Science at Interfaces and with Supramolecular Nanostructures

For materials development with high-level structural regulations, the emerging concept of nanoarchitectonics has been proposed. Analytical sciences, including sensing/detection, sensors, and related device construction, are active targets of the nanoarchitectonics approach. This review article focuses on the two features of interface and nanostructures are especially focused to discuss nanoarchitectonics for analytical science. Especially, two selected topics, (i) analyses on molecular sensing at interfaces and (ii) sensors using self-assembled supramolecular nanostructures, are exemplified in this review article. In addition to recent general examples, specific molecular recognition at the air-water interface and fabrication of sensing materials upon self-assembly of fullerene units are discussed. Descriptions of these examples indicate that nanoarchitectonics and analytical science share common benefits, and therefore, developments in both research fields should lead to synergies.

A sensitive electrochemical detection of metronidazole in synthetic serum and urine samples using low-cost screen-printed electrodes modified with reduced graphene oxide and C60

Monitoring the concentration of antibiotics in body fluids is essential to optimizing the therapy and minimizing the risk of bacteria resistance, which can be made with electrochemical sensors tailored with appropriate materials. In this paper, we report on sensors made with screen-printed electrodes (SPE) coated with fullerene (C60), reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Nafion (NF) (C60-rGO-NF/SPE) to determine the antibiotic metronidazole (MTZ). Under optimized conditions, the C60-rGO-NF/SPE sensor exhibited a linear response in square wave voltammetry for MTZ concentrations from 2.5 × 10-7 to 34 × 10-6 mol/L, with a detection limit of 2.1 × 10-7 mol/L. This sensor was also capable of detecting MTZ in serum and urine, with recovery between 94% and 100%, which are similar to those of the standard chromatographic method (HPLC-UV). Because the C60-rGO-NF/SPE sensor is amenable to mass production and allows for MTZ determination with simple principles of detection, it fulfills the requirements of therapeutic drug monitoring programs.

Novel pyridinium-type fullerene derivatives as multitargeting inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, HIV-1 protease, and HCV NS5B polymerase

In the present study, we newly synthesized four types of novel fullerene derivatives: pyridinium/ethyl ester-type derivatives 3b-3l, pyridinium/carboxylic acid-type derivatives 4a, 4e, 4f, pyridinium/amide-type derivative 5a, and pyridinium/2-morpholinone-type derivative 6a. Among the assessed compounds, cis-3c, cis-3d, trans-3e, trans-3h, cis-3l, cis-4e, cis-4f, trans-4f, and cis-5a were found to inhibit HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-RT), HIV-1 protease (HIV-PR), and HCV NS5B polymerase (HCV NS5B), with IC₅₀ values observed in the micromolar range. Cellular uptake of pyridinium/ethyl ester-type derivatives was higher than that of corresponding pyridinium/carboxylic acid-type derivatives and pyridinium/amide-type derivatives. This result might indicate that pyridinium/ethyl ester-type derivatives are expected to be lead compounds for multitargeting drugs to treat HIV/HCV coinfection.

Metal doped fullerene complexes as promising drug delivery materials against COVID-19

An outbreak of respiratory disorder caused by coronavirus has been named as coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19). To find a specific treatment against this disease researchers are at the frontline. To cure COVID-19, favipiravir (FPV) has been reported as an effective drug based on its high recovery rate. Among nanomaterials, fullerene C60 has achieved enormous attention as a drug delivery vehicle due to its good bioavailability and low toxicity. Hence, in this work, we have investigated the potential of metal-doped fullerene as a drug carrier, based on DFT calculations by using M06-2X functional and 6-31G(d) basis set in water media. In this research electronic parameters and adsorption energy of FPV on interaction with metal-doped (Cr, Fe, and Ni) fullerene is studied. The charge transfer between drug and doped fullerene has been studied through electrophilicity indexes. The structural and electronic properties are explored in terms of adsorption energy through frontier molecular orbital (FMO) and density of state (DOS). It is observed that doping of fullerene C60 with Cr, Fe, and Ni metals significantly enhances the drug delivery rate and provides numerous advantages including controlled drug release at specific target sites which minimize the generic collection in vivo and reduce the side effects. Thusly, it is suggested that our designed metal-doped complexes might be efficient candidates as drug delivery materials for COVID-19 infection.

François Diederich (1952-2020): 40 Years of Organic Chemistry

François Diederich, Professor of Organic Chemistry and long-time Chair of the Editorial Board of Angewandte Chemie, sadly passed away on September 23, 2020. He will be remembered for his groundbreaking research in the chemistry of fullerenes and carbon-rich molecules, in supramolecular and medicinal chemistry, as an engaging teacher, and as a generous and fascinating human being.

Identification of amphetamine as a stimulant drug by pristine and doped C70 fullerenes: a DFT/TDDFT investigation

The density functional theory (DFT) was used to examine the electronic reactivity and sensitivity of a pristine, Si, and Al-doped fullerene C₇₀ with AM drug. AM drug has been shown to be physically absorbed by its N-head on the pristine C₇₀ with an adsorption energy of about - 1.09 kcal/mol and to have no impact on the electric conductivity of that cluster. The atom substitution of Si and Al for C atoms at C₇₀ significantly increases C₇₀ fullerene reactivity, with adsorption energy predictions of approximately - 31.09 and - 45.59 kcal/mol, respectively. The energy difference of LUMO and HOMO, i.e., Eg from C₇₀ fullerene, significantly affects AM drug. Significant LUMO destabilization in Al-C₇₀ by adsorption of the drug AM boosts the electrical conductivity of Al-C₇₀ while generating electric signals that are related to the environmental presence of AM drug. Hence, Al-doped C₇₀ is demonstrated to be an effective electronic AM drug sensor. In contrast to Si-C₇₀ fullerene, significant AM-drug adsorption effects on Fermi and Si-C₇₀ work functions make Si-C₇₀ an Ф-type candidate for AM drug sensor applications. The time-dependent theory of the functional density shows that the AM/Al-C₇₀ complex is steadily situated at a maximum peak of 784.15 nm.

UV-light promoted formation of boron nitride-fullerene composite and its photodegradation performance for antibiotics under visible light irradiation

A series of C₆₀/BN composites have been synthesized, which can efficiently photodegrade TC under visible-light irradiation. Compared with C₆₀/BN-D6 and C₆₀/BN-V6 synthesized under dark and visible-light irradiation, C₆₀/BN-U6 synthesized under UV-light irradiation has the largest adsorption and photodegradation performance for TC under visible-light irradiation. FTIR and XPS characterizations suggest that C₆₀/BN composite is most likely the charge transfer composite, in which C₆₀ acts as electron acceptor and BN acts as electron donor. UV-light has the best promotion effect for the formation of C₆₀/BN. The adsorption quantity of TC by C₆₀/BN-U6 is 2.77 times higher than that of BN (131.05 mg g^-1 vs. 47.27 mg g^-1), being due to that C₆₀/BN-U6 has higher surface area than BN (135.7 m² g^-1 vs. 18.8 m² g^-1). The photodegradation of C₆₀/BN-U6 for TC follows Z-scheme heterojunction mechanism, as well as the photo-induced ·O^2- and h⁺ are the dominant photoactive species. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) method is applied to evaluate the toxicity of TC and its photodegradation intermediates. The photodegradation rate of C₆₀/BN-U6 for TC is 19.19 times, 10.06 times, 5.83 times, 2.73 times and 1.84 times higher than that of TiO₂ (P25), g-C₃N₄, BNPA, BCNPA, and BN/TiO₂, respectively, implying that C₆₀/BN-U is a good metal-free photocatalyst.

Green and rapid preparation of long-term stable aqueous dispersions of fullerenes and endohedral fullerenes: The pros and cons of an ultrasonic probe

A green, scalable, and sustainable approach to prepare aqueous fullerene dispersions (AFD) C60, C70, endohedral metallofullerene Gd@C82, and their derivatives C60Cl6, C70Cl10, and supramolecular and ester-like derivatives, 10 fullerene species total, is proposed. For the first time, an immersed ultrasonic probe was used to preparing dispersions for pristine fullerenes without addends. Both ultrasound-assisted solvent-exchange and direct sonication techniques for AFD preparation using an immersed probe were tested. The average time for AFD preparation decreases 10-15 times compared to an ultrasound-bath-assisted technique, while final fullerene concentrations in AFDs remained at tens of ppm (up to 80 ppm). The aqueous dispersions showed long-term stability, a negatively charged surface with a zeta potential up to -32 mV with an average nanocluster diameter of no more than 180 nm. The total anionic and cationic compositions of samples were found by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy and chromatographic techniques. The highlights and challenges of using an ultrasound probe for AFD production are discussed.

Strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding in confined amino acids

Intramolecular hydrogen bonding is evaluated in three different amino acids encapsulated in C₆₀ fullerene in the context of electron density analysis. While conventional intramolecular hydrogen bonding in isolated amino acids are dominated by electrostatic character, it is shown that strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding can be formed in confined amino acids so that in two cases covalent intramolecular hydrogen bonding is appeared in the confined species. Also, results show that zwitterionic amino acids are stable in confined state, where no implicit or explicit solvation is applied. Covalent character for intramolecular hydrogen bonding in amino acids have not yet been reported.

C60 in olive oil causes light-dependent toxicity and does not extend lifespan in mice

C60 is a potent antioxidant that has been reported to substantially extend the lifespan of rodents when formulated in olive oil (C60-OO) or extra virgin olive oil (C60-EVOO). Despite there being no regulated form of C60-OO, people have begun obtaining it from online sources and dosing it to themselves or their pets, presumably with the assumption of safety and efficacy. In this study, we obtain C60-OO from a sample of online vendors, and find marked discrepancies in appearance, impurity profile, concentration, and activity relative to pristine C60-OO formulated in-house. We additionally find that pristine C60-OO causes no acute toxicity in a rodent model but does form toxic species that can cause significant morbidity and mortality in mice in under 2 weeks when exposed to light levels consistent with ambient light. Intraperitoneal injections of C60-OO did not affect the lifespan of CB6F1 female mice. Finally, we conduct a lifespan and health span study in males and females C57BL/6 J mice comparing oral treatment with pristine C60-EVOO and EVOO alone versus untreated controls. We failed to observe significant lifespan and health span benefits of C60-EVOO or EVOO supplementation compared to untreated controls, both starting the treatment in adult or old age. Our results call into question the biological benefit of C60-OO in aging.

Fullerenol regulates oxidative stress and tissue ionic homeostasis in spring wheat to improve net-primary productivity under salt-stress

The effects of fullerenol nanopriming (0, 10, 40, 80 and 120 nM concentration) on salt stressed-wheat (0 and 150 mM NaCl) were investigated under natural conditions. Salinity resulted in a shift in wheat growth pattern in the form of LAR (+ 40.9% increase) and RGR (+ 13.4% increase) while decreased NAR (- 31.7%). It also disturbed shoot and root biomass, ion uptake and reduced chlorophyll contents. Despite increase in enzyme activities, higher ROS generation (+ 48.1% O₂^- anion; and + 62.2% H₂O₂) and lipid peroxidation (+ 40.8% MDA) were detected in salt-stressed wheat plants. Possibly, the increases in enzyme activities were not up to the level to completely counteract the salinity induced oxidative stress. Nanopriming with fullerenol improved NAR (+ 8.77% to 23.2%), ROS metabolism and decreased indicators of oxidative stress. Hydropriming treatment also promoted NAR recovery by 21.9% than control plants. Compared to Na⁺ ions, improvements in shoot relative concentrations of K⁺, Ca²⁺ and P also recorded along with soluble sugars and amino acids, which improved osmotic balance. These biochemical modifications contributed to improvements in grain yield attributes (+11.8% to 18.3% in 100 grain-weight) than salinity stressed control. Hydropriming also contributed to a recovery in grain yield attributes by 12.6%. Above all, the harvested seeds from fullerenol treated plants also showed better germination and seedlings growth traits. Conclusively, we report non-toxic, growth-promoting effects of fullerenol nanoparticles on wheat crop and as a way forward; we suggest its exogenous application to recover crop productivity under saline environments.

Novel pH-responsive nanohybrid for simultaneous delivery of doxorubicin and paclitaxel: an in-silico insight

BACKGROUND

The distribution of drugs could not be controlled in the conventional delivery systems. This has led to the developing of a specific nanoparticle-based delivery system, called smart drug delivery systems. In cancer therapy, innovative biocompatible nanocarriers have received much attention for various ranges of anti-cancer drugs. In this work, the effect of an interesting and novel copolymer named "dimethyl acrylamide-trimethyl chitosan" was investigated on delivery of paclitaxel and doxorubicin applying carboxylated fullerene nanohybrid. The current study was run via molecular dynamics simulation and quantum calculations based on the acidic pH differences between cancerous microenvironment and normal tissues. Furthermore, hydrogen bonds, radius of gyration, and nanoparticle interaction energies were studied here. Stimulatingly, a simultaneous pH and temperature-responsive system were proposed for paclitaxel and doxorubicin for a co-polymer. A pH-responsive and thermal responsive copolymer were utilized based on trimethyl chitosan and dimethyl acrylamide, respectively. In such a dualistic approach, co-polymer makes an excellent system to possess two simultaneous properties in one bio-polymer.

RESULTS

The simulation results proposed dramatic and indisputable effects of the copolymer in the release of drugs in cancerous tissues, as well as increased biocompatibility and drug uptake in healthy tissues. Repeated simulations of a similar article performed for the validation test. The results are very close to those of the reference paper.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, conjugated modified fullerene and dimethyl acrylamide-trimethyl chitosan (DMAA-TMC) as nanohybrid can be an appropriate proposition for drug loading, drug delivery, and drug release on dual responsive smart drug delivery system.

Interactions between carbon-based nanoparticles and steroid hormone micropollutants in water

The occurrence of micropollutants (MPs) including steroid hormones is a global environmental and health challenge. Carbon-based nanoparticles can be incorporated with water treatment processes to allow MP removal by adsorption. The aim was to compare the suitability of such nanoparticles (graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes and C₆₀) to adsorb steroid hormones for later incorporation in membrane composites. All nanoparticles displayed fast kinetics; carbon nanotubes and graphene showed high adsorption capacities for hormones undeterminable in isotherm studies (over 10 mg/g). External surface adsorption appears to be the most prominent factor impacting adsorption performance. Structure, conformation, geometry and surface charge of nanoparticles can influence the accessibility of surface area through colloidal instability in aqueous solution. Mechanism inspection shows that adsorption initiates at long ranges (up to 10 nm) through hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. At relatively short ranges (0.2-0.5 nm), adsorption is enhanced by π/π stacking, XH / π (X = C, O) interactions, van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding. Both long- and short-range forces transporting hormones from the liquid bulk into the adsorbed phase could control the rate. With relatively short residence time required and high adsorption capacity, carbon nanotubes and graphene are promising for incorporation in a membrane composite.

Fullerene derivatives as dual inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and protease

In the present study, we newly synthesized three types of novel fullerene derivatives: pyridinium-type derivatives trans-3a and 4a-5b, piperidinium-type derivative 9, and proline-type derivatives 10a-12. Among the assessed compounds, 5a, 10e, 10f, 10i, 11a-d, and 12 were found to inhibit both HIV reverse transcriptase and HIV protease (HIV-PR), with IC₅₀ values in the low micromolar range being observed. Regarding HIV-PR inhibition activity, proline-type derivatives 11a-11d and 12, bearing an alkyl chain between the hydroxylmethylcarbonyl (HMC) moiety and pyrrolidine ring, were more potent than other derivatives. This result might indicate that connecting HMC moieties with proline-type fullerene derivatives through properly sized alkyl chain leads to improved HIV-PR inhibitory activity.

Carbon nanomaterials to combat virus: A perspective in view of COVID-19

The rapid outbreaks of lethal viruses necessitate the development of novel antiviral substance. Besides the conventional antiviral substances, biocompatible nanomaterials also have significant potential in combating the virus at various stages of infection. Carbon nanomaterials have an impressive record against viruses and can deal with many crucial healthcare issues. In accordance with the published literature, biocompatible carbon nanomaterials have a promising prospect as an antiviral substance. Subsequently, the antiviral properties of different carbon nanomaterials namely fullerene, carbon nanotube, carbon dot and graphene oxide have been reviewed.