J Appl Biomed 10:1-8, 2012 | DOI: 10.2478/v10136-012-0002-2

Fullerene nanoparticles and their anti-oxidative effects: a comparison to other radioprotective agents

Jiřina Vávrová^1,*, Martina Řezáčová², Jaroslav Pejchal¹

¹ Department of Radiobiology, University of Defence, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

² Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic

Radiation therapy occupies an important position in the treatment of malignant diseases in spite of the existence of radiation side effects on normal tissues. Thus, substances are being developed which are designed to reduce both the acute and long term radiation effects on healthy tissues. Currently a sulphur-containing compound amifostine (WR2721, ethyol) is used in clinical practice as a radioprotectant. However, it itself has considerable side effects including hypotension (found in 62% of patients), hypocalcaemia, diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. Carbon nanospheres, known as fullerenes, and their water soluble derivatives (e.g. C₆₀(OH)₂₄, dendrofullerene DF-1) exert anti-oxidative properties and reduce damage to the DNA in irradiated cells. Water soluble fullerenes are low-toxic substances and thus, are attractive in terms of their use as radioprotectants.

Keywords: ionizing radiation; fullerenes; antioxidant; radioprotection; nanoparticles

Received: August 17, 2011; Revised: October 31, 2011; Published: March 31, 2012  Show citation