Fullerenol Doped Matrigel Promotes Maturation of Intestinal Organoids by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis

Small intestinal organoids are widely utilized in basic research, but challenges such as low survival rates, functional instability, and oxidative stress often limit their applications. Investigation of engineering strategies represents a compelling area of research in biomedical science. Fullerenes (C₆₀) and their polyhydroxylated derivatives such as fullerenols (C₆₀(OH)₃₆) exhibit potent antioxidant properties in vitro and in vivo, which have been utilized in biomedical research. However, the specific biological effects of fullerenols on intestinal organoids remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that incorporating fullerenols (1 μg/mL) into matrigel significantly enhances the survival and growth of intestinal organoids. Most significantly, transcriptomics and immunofluorescence analyses further revealed that fullerenols enhance the survival and growth of intestinal organoids by reducing cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, alleviating cell apoptosis, and promoting cell cycle progression. These findings propose fullerenols as a promising biomaterial to overcome key challenges in organoid cultivation and advance future biomedical research.