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Nanocrystalline cellulose-fullerene: Novel conjugates
A Herreros-López1, M Carini1, T Da Ros1
1Centre of Excellence for Nanostructured Materials (CENMAT), INSTM, Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, P.le Europa 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy.
Carbohydrate Polymers
|March 23, 2017
Summary
Novel fullerene C60 derivatives were covalently attached to nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). These new hybrids are effective photosensitizers for singlet oxygen production and show potential for photodynamic cancer therapy applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is a renewable biomaterial with tunable surface chemistry.
- Fullerene C60 derivatives offer unique photophysical properties for applications in photochemistry and medicine.
- Developing novel hybrid materials combines the advantages of both components for advanced functionalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first covalent grafting of amino-fullerene C60 derivatives onto TEMPO-oxidized NCC.
- To investigate the properties of these novel fullerene-cellulose hybrid materials.
- To evaluate their potential as photosensitizers and in photodynamic cancer therapy.
Main Methods:
- Covalent grafting of C60-LC-NH2 and C60-SC-NH2 onto NCC-COOH.
- Formation of stable colloidal suspensions of the hybrid materials.
- Assessment of singlet oxygen production via L-methionine-methyl ester oxidation.
- One-pot synthesis of dual-functionalized hybrids with FITC and C60.
- Cytotoxicity evaluation on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.
Main Results:
- Successful covalent attachment of amino-fullerene C60 derivatives to NCC.
- Formation of stable colloidal suspensions up to 0.5mg/mL.
- Demonstrated effectiveness as photosensitizers for singlet oxygen generation.
- Successful one-pot grafting of fluorescent molecules and C60 onto NCC.
- No observed cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cells.
Conclusions:
- Novel fullerene-cellulose hybrid materials were synthesized for the first time.
- These hybrids exhibit promising photosensitizing capabilities.
- The developed materials are potential candidates for photodynamic cancer therapy due to their efficacy and low cytotoxicity.
