Fullerenes in Medicine; Will it ever Occur?

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Christopher Kepley, Associate Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Fullerenes represent a group of compounds having unique properties that make them attractivecandidates for use as a platform for developing new medical applications. The carbon cage(usually C60 and C70) of empty cage fullerenes (Figure 1-left/middle) are being developed astherapeutics for disease processes such as multiple sclerosis, neurodegeneration, HIV infection,cancer, radiation exposure, ischemia, allergic disease, infectious disease, and generalinflammation. Metallo-fullerenes (Figure 1-right; that have metals enclosed within the carboncage) are being developed into new biomarker homing, diagnostic contrast agents for MRI.Lastly, a new class of theranostics are being developed that combine cell targetingcapabilities/imaging with a therapeutic payload. Their inherent properties combined with theirability to be derivatized with side chains results in almost limitless new chemical structuresmaking them ideal platform molecules for new solutions to basic biological problems. However,one of the biggest obstacles that have kept this class of compounds from potentially improvinghuman health and reducing health care costs is the concern about toxicity. This has been due, inpart, to the lack of standard structural relationships that affect biological outcomes of FullereneDerivatives (FD).

Additional Information

Publication
J. Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology, Volume 3, Issue 6, July, 2012.
Language: English
Date: 2012
Keywords
fullerenes, medical research

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