Topology dictates function: controlled ROS production and mitochondria accumulation via curved carbon materials

Both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondria are involved in many physiological and pathological processes. Herein, we employed curved corannulene with a large dipole moment for controlled ROS production and mitochondria targeting. Corannulene was solubilized in water via complexation with gamma-cyclodextrin (1 : 2). The complex could produce type I ROS in water in a dose- and irradiation time-dependent manner. The curvature-induced dipole moment aids electron transfer and hence enables ROS generation. As a consequence of electron delocalization, which facilitates mitochondrial uptake due to the large negative membrane potential of mitochondria, mitochondrial accumulation of corannulene was demonstrated. However, this is not valid for the flat perylene control. This discovery not only presents a new tool for controlled ROS production as well as mitochondria targeting in basic biomedical research, but also opens an avenue for the potential application of curved carbon materials as therapeutic agents.