Fullerenes for Applications in Biology and Medicine

P.      Anilkumar; F.      Lu; L.      Cao; P.      G. Luo; J.-H.      Liu; S.      Sahu; K.      N. Tackett II; Y.      Wang; Y.-P.      Sun

Abstract

Fullerenes as a unique class of carbon allotropes have been studied extensively for their distinctive material properties and potential technological applications, including those in biology and medicine. Since a major focus in the latter has been on drug development and formulation, in this paper we highlight some representative studies related to such a focus, including the use of fullerenes for drug-like functions and for their improving the formulation of established drugs. Also discussed are some other potential medically relevant applications of fullerenes, such as their serving as potent agents in photodynamic therapy and magnetic imaging.

Keywords: Fullerenes, radical scavengers, drug carriers, photodynamic therapy, endofullerenes, MRI contrast agents, carbon allotropes, technological applications, amino acid, carboxylic acid, amphiphilic polymers