The Second Derivative of Fullerene C60 (SD-C60) and Biomolecular Machinery of Hydrogen Bonds: Water-Based Nanomedicine

Abstract

The human body contains 60–70% water, depending on age. As a body fluid, it is not only a medium in which physical and chemical processes take place, but it is also one of the active mediators. Water is the richest substance with non-covalent hydrogen bonds. Water molecules, by themselves (in vacuum), are diamagnetic but when organized into clusters, they become diamagnetic or paramagnetic. Also, biomolecules (DNA, collagen, clathrin, and other proteins) have non-covalent hydrogen bonds in their structure. The interaction, as well as signal transmission, between water and biomolecules is achieved through the vibrations of covalent and non-covalent hydrogen bonds, which determine the state and dynamics of conformational changes in biomolecules. Disruptive conformational changes in biomolecules, cells, and tissues lead to their dysfunctionality, so they are a frequent cause of many disorders and diseases. For example, the rearrangement of hydrogen bonding due to mitochondrial disease mutation in cytochrome bc1 disturbs heme bH redox potential and spin state. In order to prevent and repair the dysfunctional conformational changes, a liquid substance was developed based on the second derivative of the C60 molecule (SD-C60), which has classical and quantum properties. The characterization of SD-C60 by UV-VIS-NIR, FTIR, TEM, and AFM/MFM was performed and it is shown that SD-C60 water layers generate vibrations with near-zero phase dispersion which are transmitted through Fibonacci’s water chains to biomolecules. In comparison with previously published SD-C60 derivate (3HFWC, size until 10 nm, and 1–5 water layers), the improved formulation (3HFWC-W, size 10–25 nm, and 6–9 water layers) showed multiplied cytotoxic activity against melanoma cell lines of different aggressiveness. Apart from this, the mode of action was preserved and based on an induction of senescence rather than cell death. Importantly, high selectivity towards malignant phenotypes was detected. Observed effects can be ascribed to a machinery of hydrogen bonds, which are generated in SD-C60 and transmitted through water to biomolecules. This approach may open a new field in science and healthcare—a “water-based nanomedicine”.

Comparative Studies of the Structural and Physicochemical Properties of the First Fullerene Derivative FD-C60 (Fullerenol) and Second Fullerene Derivate SD-C60 (3HFWC)

“…The formation of SD-C 60 began with 0.150 g/L of hydroxylated fullerene C 60 (OH) 36 dissolved in high-purity water (0.05 µS/cm) under the influence of an external oscillatory magnetic field +250/−92 mT according to the icosahedral eigenvalues T 1g , T 2g , T 1u , and T 2u (Fibonacci numbers Φ, −Φ, −ϕ, and ϕ). At the same time, under the internal action of the vibrations of the C 60 molecules (same vibration law as an external magnetic field) in a reactor at 37 °C, the formation of 3HFWC was realized [ 22 ]. The composition of SD-C 60 (3HFWC) was as follows: (1) solid-state of 2.5–3%, (2) ordered water in chains (crystalline, linear chains between the solid-state 3HFWC units) 58–60%, (3) fullerenol (around which water layers failed to form) about 0.05%, and (4) free water about 38% [ 22 ].…”

“…At the same time, under the internal action of the vibrations of the C 60 molecules (same vibration law as an external magnetic field) in a reactor at 37 °C, the formation of 3HFWC was realized [ 22 ]. The composition of SD-C 60 (3HFWC) was as follows: (1) solid-state of 2.5–3%, (2) ordered water in chains (crystalline, linear chains between the solid-state 3HFWC units) 58–60%, (3) fullerenol (around which water layers failed to form) about 0.05%, and (4) free water about 38% [ 22 ]. The SD-C 60 solid-state of 2.5–3% was the dry residue value obtained from the solution when dried immediately before the characterization experiments.…”

“…In order to further reduce its toxicity or even completely eliminate it, as well as to improve the transfer of the C 60 vibrational modes to biological water and biomolecules, the second derivative of C 60 , SD-C 60 (C 60 (OH) 36 @(H 2 O) 144-2528 ), commercially named 3HFWC–Hyper-Harmonized Hydroxylated Fullerene Water Complex, was designed, synthesized and tested [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. In reference [ 22 ], an explanation of the creation of stable water layers around FD-C 60 (fullerenol) and obtaining SD-C 60 (3HFWC) as three-dimensional Penrose tilings (3DPTs) is given. This was achieved by sequentially changing the angle between the hydrogen bonds in the water molecules according to the Fibonacci sequence of the Φ number, i.e., by the eigenvalues of T 1u , T 2u , T 1g , T 2g of icosahedral symmetry.…”

“…Experimental results with SD-C 60 (3HFWC) in the field of biomedicine, agriculture, and cosmetics have shown desirable effects. Specifically, effects on melanoma [ 22 , 23 , 24 ], an influence on Alzheimer’s disease [ 25 ], a reduction of pain and improved memory in mice [ 26 ], the formation of hydrogen peroxide in tomatoes, and an increase in lycopene and regulation on the flow of water from the extracellular space into the cell [ 27 ]. Most of the current methods and techniques in the fight against cancer are of a destructive nature, destroying diseased cells, and therefore also healthy ones that are in the immediate environment.…”

“…Bearing in mind the increasing interest for the application of both FD-C 60 (fullerenol) [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ] and SD-C 60 (3HFWC) [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ] in biomedicine and cosmetics, it is necessary to present a comparative physicochemical characterization of them. There are several studies that present the physicochemical characteristics of fullerenol [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], but since fullerenol can have a different number of OH groups (usually from 12 to 48), there can be significant differences in the properties of fullerenol.…”