C60 fullerene affects elastic properties and osmoregulation reactions of human lymphocytes

The influence of aqueous solution of pristine C60 fullerene (C60FAS) on functional activity of lymphocytes from a healthy person was studied for the first time. By means of atomic force microscopy, it was found that C60FAS in a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml increases the stiffness of the lymphocyte membrane by 41% (p < 0.05) and lowers the functional activity of the plasmalemma surface, thereby constraining the use of its membrane material in physiological reactions using a hypotonic model in vitro. However, a cell retains the ability to regulate its volume and demonstrates relative resistance to hypo-osmotic stress. The resistance of lymphocytes in hypo-osmotic medium is facilitated by activation of the nucleus by C60 fullerene particles, which regulates the implementation of two consistent phases of an increase and decrease of cell volume, thereby retaining cell viability. All these indicate the impact of C60 fullerene on the cellular nucleus.