Since their discovery, fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene attract
significant attention of researches in various scientific fields including
biomedicine. Nano-scale size and a possibility for diverse surface
modifications allow carbon nanoallotropes to become an indispensable
nanostructured material in nanotechnologies, including nanomedicine.
Manipulation of surface chemistry has created diverse populations of
water-soluble derivatives of fullerenes, which exhibit different behaviors.
Both non-derivatized and derivatized fullerenes show various biological
activities. Cellular processes that underline their toxicity are oxidative,
genotoxic, and cytotoxic responses. The antioxidant/cytoprotective properties
of fullerenes and derivatives have been considered in the prevention of organ
oxidative damage and treatment. The same unique physiochemical properties of
nanomaterials may also be associated with potential health hazards.
Non-biodegradability and toxicity of carbon nanoparticles still remain a
great concern in the area of biomedical application. In this review, we
report on basic physical and chemical properties of carbon nano-clusters -
fullerenes, nanotubes, and graphene - their specificities, activities, and
potential application in biological systems. Special emphasis is given to our
most important results obtained in vitro and in vivo using polyhydroxylated
fullerene derivative C60(OH)24.
Carbon nanomaterials: Biologically active fullerene derivatives