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Biotensegrity—The Structure of Life
Published in David Lesondak, Angeli Maun Akey, Fascia, Function, and Medical Applications, 2020
In the paper “Space, Stars, C60, and Soot”, Kroto34 shows that carbon-based exceptionally stable, C60 clusters (think of a 60-sided soccer ball shape) both self-assemble and effortlessly go on to form helical structures. C60 is essentially a tensegrity icosahedron or buckminsterfullerene. While this conformation has yet to be unequivocally confirmed, when applied here it does suggest that stress exerted on such micro- or macro-tubules would not be longitudinal but rather spiral, based on its chirality.
Regeneration: Nanomaterials for Tissue Regeneration
Published in Harry F. Tibbals, Medical Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine, 2017
Many degenerative brain conditions are associated with oxidative stress. Derivatives of buckminsterfullerene have been synthesized to create unique types of compounds with potent antioxidant properties, capable of countering the peroxides and free radicals known to cause stress-induced tissue damage. A class of malonic acid C60 derivatives, carboxyfullerenes, can consume superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide, and inhibit lipid peroxi-dation. Fullerene derivatives have been shown to delay motor deterioration and death in a mouse model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Studies with systemic administration of fullerene antioxidants have shown neuroprotective activity in animal models of other neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease [130]. Other types of antioxidants and free radical scavengers are being found to modulate the assembly and toxicity of amyloid fibrils, which are involved in the formation of plaques associated with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and CreutzfeldtJakob diseases. (More recently, amyloid has been found to have many non-pathological functional roles as well.) Nanotechnology methods are being employed to study the structure and roles of these nanoscale fibrils, which could lead to better understanding and treatment strategies [131].
Nanomedicine(s) under the Microscope *
Published in Valerio Voliani, Nanomaterials and Neoplasms, 2021
It is 25 years since the discovery of fullerenes (reviewed in Ref. [279]) for which Kroto, Curl, and Smalley were awarded the chemistry Nobel Prize in 1996. Since then, the C60 “buckminsterfullerene” and other fullerenes have been proposed as bioactive agents (e.g., anti-HIV protease inhibitors and quenchers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease), for drug delivery, as imaging agents, and as radioprotectants (reviewed in Refs. [280–283]). There is much debate however regarding potential toxicity (e.g., Refs. [284, 285]), a discussion complicated by the wide variety of fullerene structures and surface modifications [280]. Functionalized amphiphilic fullerenes can also form spherical vesicles called “buckysomes” (100–150 nm) [286] (Fig. 13.6a) and are proposed as hybrid materials with dendrimers. The fullerenol toxicity toward renal proximal tubule cells was recently reported in vitro [287], important to note for those fullerenes cleared renally. Carbon nanotubes are byproducts of fullerenes created by direct current arc discharge [288]. Their unique geometry and electrochemical, thermal, and spectroscopic properties have resulted in proposed use as drug carriers, as imaging agents, for gene delivery, and as hybrid theranostics. Again their toxicity has been widely discussed [289], not least because their physical form draws comparison with carcinogenic asbestos fibers. Some have optimistically championed biomedical use, but it is not clear whether risk-benefit will ever justify clinical development for many proposed applications. The need to avoid hype with respect to carbon nanotubes and avoid “unrealistic expectations that may prove to be counter-productive to the development of the field overall” has been wisely noted [290].
3D self-assembled nanocarriers for drug delivery
Published in Drug Metabolism Reviews, 2023
Hossein Karballaei Mirzahosseini, Mojgan Sheikhi, Farhad Najmeddin, Mehrnoosh Shirangi, Mojtaba Mojtahedzadeh
Reviews on the synthesis, design, and use of self-assembled biomolecular nanomaterials as well as several research on the mechanisms influencing the attachment of biomolecules to diverse nanostructures have been published (Zhang et al. 2002; Zhang 2003; Gröger et al. 2008). For example, Yang et al. used and carefully considered design methodologies for the self-assembly of proteins in a summary of the self-assembly of proteins into different supramolecular products (Yang et al. 2016). To find and create nanodevices, Willner and Willner explored the usage of nanostructures and nanomaterials based on biomolecules (Willner and Willner 2010). Self-assembled nanomaterials have several applications in the fields of health sciences, information technology, and environmental sciences, ranging from basic to practical research projects (Figure 1), the majority of this article’s focus has been on self-assembling nanostructures that are beneficial for biological applications, particularly for the transfer of genes and medications. After analyzing these results, we determined that a review of the self-assembled 3D polyfunctionalized nanostructures would still be beneficial. This study thus focused on 3D self-assembly applications in medication administration. Hydrogels, CNTs, graphene oxide, nanodiamonds, and buckminsterfullerene are some of these materials. Consequently, these subjects are covered in the portion that follows.
Metal Nanoparticles in Infection and Immunity
Published in Immunological Investigations, 2020
For the sake of perspective, there are many other types of nanoparticles other than those of metal. Examples include carbon nanoparticles, which can come in various sizes and shapes, including the icosahedral shapes of buckminsterfullerene or “Buckyballs” (which resemble soccer balls). Biodegradable nanoparticles include poly-lactic- co-glycolic acid (PLGA), hydroxyapatite, calcium phosphate, chitosan, chitosan-mannitol, and tannic acid hydrogels. Chitosan is the N-deacetylated derivative of chitin, a polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of arthropods and crustaceans, and in fungi. The biodegradability of some of the organic nanoparticles should be considered a strong advantage from the point of view of safety, compared to gold and silver particles, which are not biodegradable in the human body.
Current advances in nanocarriers for biomedical research and their applications
Published in Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 2018
George Kerry Rout, Han-Seung Shin, Sushanto Gouda, Sabuj Sahoo, Gitishree Das, Leonardo Fernandes Fraceto, Jayanta Kumar Patra
The first fullerene molecule named buckminsterfullerene (C60) was developed by Richard in the late eighties. Chemically, it is composed of carbon in hollow spherical form comprising of 12 pentagonal carbon rings encircled by 20 hexagonal carbon rings and having a diameter of about 0.7 nm. As CNTs, fullerene carbon molecules are sp2 and sp3 hybridized out of which, only sp2 carbon atom represents considerable angle strain within the molecule. Because of the expendable physical and chemical properties, diversified experimental methodologies have been derived for the bizarre chemical and structural transformations of the sphere that results in the production of several varieties of C60 derivatives, possessing different cutting-edge physical and chemical properties.