Biomedical Applications of Metal‐Encapsulated Fullerene Nanoparticles
- 27 December 2016
- Vol. 13 (8)
- https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201603152
Abstract
The carbonaceous nanomaterials known as metallofullerenes have attracted considerable attention due to their attractive properties. The robust nature of the “Trojan Horse” fullerene cage provides an important structural component, which isolates the metal cluster from the bioenvironment. The large carbon surface area is ideally suited for multiple exo-functionalization approaches to modify the hydrophobic cage for a more hydrophilic bioenvironment. Additionally, peptides and other agents are readily covalently attached to this nanoprobe for targeting applications. The recent progress in developing metallofullerenes for next-generation biomedical applications is described. Of special interest are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. Several recent studies reported cumulative gadolinium deposition in the brain and bones of individuals using commercial clinical MRI contrast agents. Gadolinium-based metallofullerenes provide 2–3 orders of magnitude improvement in MRI relaxivity and potentially lower clinical levels of toxic Gd3+ ions deposited. Other potential biomedical applications are also reviewed herein.Keywords
This publication has 102 references indexed in Scilit:
- Functionalization of gadolinium metallofullerenes for detecting atherosclerotic plaque lesions by cardiovascular magnetic resonanceJournal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, 2013
- Biological characterizations of [Gd@C82(OH)22]nnanoparticles as fullerene derivatives for cancer therapyIntegrative Biology, 2012
- Molecular mechanism of pancreatic tumor metastasis inhibition by Gd@C 82 (OH) 22 and its implication for de novo design of nanomedicineProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2012
- Metallofullerene-based Nanoplatform for Brain Tumor Brachytherapy and Longitudinal Imaging in a Murine Orthotopic Xenograft ModelRadiology, 2011
- Encapsulation of a Radiolabeled Cluster Inside a Fullerene Cage, 177LuxLu(3−x)N@C80: An Interleukin-13-Conjugated Radiolabeled Metallofullerene PlatformJournal of the American Chemical Society, 2010
- High Relaxivity Trimetallic Nitride (Gd3N) Metallofullerene MRI Contrast Agents with Optimized FunctionalityBioconjugate Chemistry, 2010
- Molecular Basis for Shared Cytokine Recognition Revealed in the Structure of an Unusually High Affinity Complex between IL-13 and IL-13Rα2Structure, 2010
- Facile Preparation of a New Gadofullerene-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent with High 1H RelaxivityBioconjugate Chemistry, 2009
- Evidence for Singlet-Oxygen Generation and Biocidal Activity in Photoresponsive Metallic Nitride Fullerene−Polymer Adhesive FilmsACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2009
- Factors Affecting the Clearance and Biodistribution of Polymeric NanoparticlesMolecular Pharmaceutics, 2008