Fullerene C<inf>60</inf> and its application in biomedicine

Abstract

Science and technology related to Fullerene C60 and related compounds have attracted the attention and research stems from the Fullerenes' beautiful symmetry, dazzling chemical and physical technologies and nanotechnologies. Modern history of fivefold symmetry and the icosahedron began in 1985, when Kroto/Smalley research team discovered the C60 molecule. The production of solid C60 by the Huffman/Kratsehmer research team in 1990 provided a new stimulus for research by producing C60 in macroscopic amounts for use by the scientific and technological community. Over the past few years, many research groups have begun to investigate water soluble fullerenes in vitro biological activity including enzyme inhibition, antiviral activity, site selective DNA cleavage, electron transfer, transmembrane transport of Me2+ions, cytotoxicity and other in vitro and in vivo biological effects.