Hydrophilization and Functionalization of Fullerene C₆₀ with Maleic Acid Copolymers by Forming a Non-Covalent Complex

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• C60 fullerene is a nanomaterial with potential applications but faces challenges in aqueous dispersion.
• Stabilizing nanoparticles in water is crucial for their effective use in various fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an easy and efficient method for producing stable aqueous dispersions of C60 fullerene.
• To utilize maleic acid copolymers for stabilizing C60 fullerene via non-covalent complexation.

Main Methods:

• Aqueous dispersions of C60 fullerene were prepared using poly(styrene-alt-maleic acid) (SM), poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone-alt-maleic acid) (VM), and poly(ethylene-alt-maleic acid) (EM).
• Fullerene was dissolved in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) and mixed with aqueous copolymer solutions, followed by dialysis.
• Characterization involved UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, DLS, TGA, and XPS to analyze properties.

Main Results:

• Stable, water-soluble C60 fullerene composites (nanocomposites) were successfully produced with average diameters of 120-200 nm and ξ-potential of -16 to -20 mV.
• The resulting nanocomposites retained solubility in NMP and water while being insoluble in non-polar solvents.
• The study explored the bactericidal properties of these novel nanostructures.

Conclusions:

• The developed approach offers a straightforward, non-toxic, and time-efficient route to stable C60 fullerene nanocomposites.
• Maleic acid copolymers effectively stabilize C60 fullerene in aqueous media, opening possibilities for biomedical and materials applications.
• The synthesized C60 fullerene nanostructures show promise for bactericidal applications.