P. Scharff

Anti‐oxidant Properties of C60 Fullerenes in vitro

C60 fullerenes at concentration 10−5 M show a protective effect on apoptotic H2O2–treated thymocytes, restoring the level of GSH in cytoplasm and increasing the activity of electron‐transport chain in mitochondria. The protective of C60 fullerenes most probably results from it ability to incorporate into cell membrane and to prevent lipid peroxidation.

Biological Effects of C60 Fullerenes in vitro and in a Model System

With the use of artificial lipid membranes, it is shown that C60 fullerenes are capable to penetrate into a lipid bilayer, by locally strengthening its conductivity. C60 fullerenes under the UV/VIS and X-ray irradiation do not influence the MTT reduction and the DNA structure in thymocytes. UV/VIS irradiated C60 fullerenes give rise to the DNA fragmentation and a decrease of the viability of ascitic Erlich carcinoma cells.

Transport Properties of Composites with Carbon Nanotube‐Based Composites

Abstract The comparative investigation of structure, morphology, and transport properties of nanoscaled carbon materials (NCM) synthesized by different methods is carried out.

Structure and magnetic properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified with iron

Magnetic properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified with iron MWCNT+Fe are studied in detail in the temperature range 4.2–300 K. Carbon encapsulated Fe nanoparticles were produced by chemical vapor deposition. Low-temperature SQUID magnetization measurements are supplemented by structural studies employing thermogravimetric TG analysis, transmission electron microscopy TEM , x-ray diffraction spectroscopy XRD , and scanning electron microscopy SEM . The magnetic susceptibility of MWCNT+Fe was also studied above room temperature to provide a complete picture of its magnetic phase transitions.

Resistance of a Nanocarbon Material Containing Nanotubes

The results of the experimental studies of resistivity of a nanocarbon material (NCM), which contains carbon nanotubes (CNT), and also the amorphous carbon particles and nanographite are presented. The main efforts were aimed at the ascertaining the mechanism of NCM conduction with regard to their phase composition.

Effect of iron-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes on lipid model and cellular plasma membranes

The aim of the present work was the study of the interaction of multi-walled carbon nanotubes filled with iron (Fe-MWCNTs) with bimolecular lipid model membrane (BLM) and cellular plasma membrane (PM). The findings demonstrate that the Fe-MWCNTs adsorb on the BLM surface with possible partial build up in the hydrophobic area of fatty acid residues of lipids and increase its specific conductivity and capacity. Furthermore, upon interaction with the PM, the Fe-MWCNTs form channels which allow the flow of water to the cells and the externalization of phosphatidylserine from the inner to the outer PM leaflet.

Interaction of C60 fullerene complexed to doxorubicin with model bilipid membranes and its uptake by HeLa cells

With an aim to elucidate the effects of C60 fullerene complexed with antibiotic doxorubicin (Dox) on model bilipid membranes (BLM), the investigation of the electrical properties of BLM under the action of Dox and C60 fullerene, and of their complex, C60+Dox,was performed. The complex as well as its components exert a clearly detectable influence on BLM, which is concentration-dependent and also depends on phospholipid composition. The mechanism of this effect originates either from intermolecular interaction of the drug with fatty-acid residues of phospholipids, or from membranotropic effects of the drug-induced lipid peroxidation, or from the sum of these two effects. By fluorescence microscopy the entering of C60 + Dox complex into HeLa cells was directly shown.

Comparative Analysis of the Antineoplastic Activity of C60 Fullerene with 5-Fluorouracil and Pyrrole Derivative In Vivo

The antitumor activity of pristine C60 fullerene aqueous solution (C60FAS) compared to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and pyrrole derivative 1-(4-Cl-benzyl)-3-Cl-4-(CF3-fenylamino)-1H-pyrrol-2.5-dione (MI-1) cytostatic drugs was investigated and analyzed in detail using the model of colorectal cancer induced by 1.2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) in rats. The number, size, and location of the tumors were measured, and the pathology was examined. It was found that the number of tumors and total lesion area decreased significantly under the action of C60FAS and MI-1. Because these drugs have different mechanisms of action, their simultaneous administration can potentially increase the effectiveness and significantly reduce the side effects of antitumor therapy.

Hepatoprotective effect of orally applied water-soluble pristine C60 fullerene against CCl4-induced acute liver injury in rats

The development of novel more efficient antioxidants is one of the most perspective approaches for the treatment of the harmful effects of toxins and their metabolites. Due to its remarkable antioxidant properties, pristine C60 fullerene has recently been proposed as a promising candidate for many biomedical applications. The present study aimed to determine whether single oral administration of water-soluble pristine C60 fullerene in small dose (1.5 mg kg−1 bwt) could prevent acute liver injury caused by single intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4; 1.0 mL kg−1 bwt) in rats. We performed structural examination of the liver and monitored the serum markers relevant to hepatocyte integrity as well as liver functionality. The antioxidative potential of pristine C60 fullerene was assessed in vivo by measuring lipid peroxidation. We also measured the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase in order to evaluate the antioxidative defense system. Biochemical and pathological results obtained in this study indicate that water-soluble pristine C60 fullerene in a single dose of 1.5 mg kg−1 has a hepatoprotective effect against CCl4-induced toxicity via its antioxidant properties. According to histopathological examinations and some biological tests, water-soluble pristine C60 fullerene is more effective against liver injury when administered before a toxicant than after one. Moreover, our results show that the low dose of C60 fullerene used has no acute toxicity in rodents. We concluded that water-soluble pristine C60 fullerene can be considered as a powerful liver-protective agent.

Structural peculiarities and Raman vibrational modes in the C60 films

The influence of thermal annealing in the air at the temperatures of 393, 453 and 473 K on the morphological and crystalline structure of fullerene C 60 films was investigated using the X-ray, electron-diffraction and electron-microscopic methods, and also the Raman spectroscopy. It is established that the annealing of C 60 films leads to the orientation of grains of the fcc phase by plane (110) in parallel to the substrate, the considerable increase of the fcc lattice parameter, the decrease of the hdp phase content and the deformation (change in the form) of C 60 molecules, which is confirmed by an increase in the intensity of vibrations 1399 and 1425 cm −1 and by the appearance of new bands 934, 1592 and 1685 cm −1 in the Raman spectra.