Research

C₆₀-Fullerenes: detection of intracellular photoluminescence and lack of cytotoxic effects

Nicole Levi^1,2 , Roy R Hantgan³ , Mark O Lively³ , David L Carroll¹ and Gaddamanugu L Prasad⁴

¹  Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials and Department of Physics, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27105, USA

²  Virginia Tech and Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC 27105, USA

³  Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA

⁴  Department of General Surgery, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA

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Journal of Nanobiotechnology 2006, 4:14doi:10.1186/1477-3155-4-14

Published:	14 December 2006

Abstract

We have developed a new method of application of C₆₀ to cultured cells that does not require water-solubilization techniques. Normal and malignant cells take-up C₆₀ and the inherent photoluminescence of C₆₀ is detected within multiple cell lines. Treatment of cells with up to 200 μg/ml (200 ppm) of C₆₀ does not alter morphology, cytoskeletal organization, cell cycle dynamics nor does it inhibit cell proliferation. Our work shows that pristine C₆₀ is non-toxic to the cells, and suggests that fullerene-based nanocarriers may be used for biomedical applications.