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

Abstract

Light fullerenes, C 60 and C 70 , have significant potential in biomedical applications due to their ability to absorb reactive oxygen species, inhibit the development of tumors, inactivate viruses and bacteria, and as the basis for developing systems for targeted drug delivery. However, the hydrophobicity of individual fullerenes complicates their practical use; therefore, creating water-soluble derivatives of fullerenes is increasingly important. Currently, the most studied soluble adducts of fullerenes are polyhydroxy fullerenes or fullerenols. Unfortunately, investigations of fullerenol biocompatibility are fragmental. They often lack reproducibility both in the synthesis of the compounds and their biological action. We here investigate the biocompatibility of a welldefined fullerenol C 60 (OH) 24 obtained using methods that minimize the content of impurities and quantitatively characterize the product's composition. We carry out comprehensive biochemical and biophysical investigations of C 60 (OH) 24 that include photodynamic properties, cyto-and genotoxicity, hemocompatibility (spontaneous and photo-induced hemolysis, platelet aggregation), and the thermodynamic characteristics of C 60 (OH) 24 binding to human serum albumin and DNA. The performed studies show good biocompatibility of fullerenol C 60 (OH) 24 , which makes it a promising object for potential use in biomedicine.

The impact of fullerenol nanoparticles on the growth of toxigenic Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxins production in vitro and in corn flour

“…It is a molecule of approximately 1 nm that tends to selfaggregate in aqueous solution thus forming fullerenol nanoparticles (FNPs) of size within 10-60 nm with the average zeta potential of −50 mV (Vraneš et al, 2017). In vitro and in silico investigation of fullerenol C 60 (OH) 24 conducted by Sharoyko, Iamalova, et al (2021) highlighted the synthesis published by Djordjevic et al (1998) as the most reproducible one, which is of the utmost importance for biological application (Sharoyko, Iamalova, et al, 2021). Biological activity of fullerenols has been examined on various models, from microorganisms, plants, and fish to invertebrates and mammals (Abd-Elsalam, 2020;Djordjevic et al, 2015;Kojić et al, 2020;Shafiq et al, 2023).…”

“…In vitro and in silico investigation of fullerenol C 60 (OH) 24 conducted by Sharoyko, Iamalova, et al (2021) highlighted the synthesis published by Djordjevic et al. (1998) as the most reproducible one, which is of the utmost importance for biological application (Sharoyko, Iamalova, et al., 2021). Biological activity of fullerenols has been examined on various models, from microorganisms, plants, and fish to invertebrates and mammals (Abd‐Elsalam, 2020; Djordjevic et al., 2015; Kojić et al., 2020; Sharoyko, Ageev, et al., 2021; Shafiq et al., 2023).…”

Quenching of Protein Fluorescence by Fullerenol C60(OH)36 Nanoparticles

“…Fullerenols are currently the most studied class of water soluble derivatives of fullerenes. Due to their chemical structure, fullerenols are promising drug carriers and antioxidants [ 12 ]. As indicated by the analysis of the available literature [ 13 , 14 , 15 ], the quality and quantity of substituents attached to the fullerene core is of key importance to the biological properties of the obtained fullerene derivatives.…”

“…The binding affinity offered by site I is mainly executed through hydrophobic interactions, whilst the affinity of site II involves a combination of hydrophobic, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions [ 29 ]. In the study by Sharoyko et al, the binding of C 60 (OH) 24 to HSA showed that the interaction of the fullerenol with HSA occurs through the subdomains IB and IIIA [ 12 ]. Studies in mice demonstrated that the fullerenol-doxorubicin conjugate had high antitumor efficacy without the systemic toxicity of free doxorubicin [ 30 ].…”

The Effect of Fullerenol C60(OH)36 on the Antioxidant Defense System in Erythrocytes

“…Highly hydroxylated fullerenols undergo rapid distribution within blood cells [ 17 , 23 , 24 , 25 ], and we decided to use this feature for biological applications of C 60 (OH) 36 [ 8 , 26 ]. We reported that C 60 (OH) 36 interacts with erythrocyte membrane proteins through the available protein -SH groups [ 27 ].…”