Therapeutic applications of low-toxicity spherical nanocarbon materials

Abstract

Nanocarbon materials have received considerable attention due to their unique structure and properties, which make them promising candidate materials for use in biomedical applications. In this review, we discuss the therapeutic applications of spherical nanocarbon materials, including fullerene nanoparticles, carbon nanohorn aggregates, nanodiamonds and porous carbon nanospheres, and their toxicology in biological systems. We put special emphasis on the antitumor effects of these multifunctional nanoparticles, which operate via novel mechanisms in a highly efficient manner. The low toxicities of these spherical nanocarbon materials as well as the possible effects of shape on toxicity are discussed.

Multifunctional upconversion–nanoparticles–trismethylpyridylporphyrin–fullerene nanocomposite: a near-infrared light-triggered theranostic platform for imaging-guided photodynamic therapy

“…A given amount of Ln (CF 3 COO) 3 (1 mmol), 0.29 mmol Gd(CF 3 COO) 3 , 0.70 mmol Yb(CF 3 COO) 3 , and 0.01 mmol Tm(CF 3 COO) 3 , and CF 3 COONa (1 mmol) were added to a mixture containing oleic acid (OA), oleylamine (OM), and octadecene (ODE) (40 mmol, molar ratio: 1:1:2) into a three-necked flask (100 ml) at room temperature. The slurry was heated to 110°C to remove low-boiling water, and oxygen with vigorous stirring under vacuum.…”

“…Then, the solution was heated to 310°C at a heating rate of 15°C min − 1 and kept for 15 min under N 2 atmosphere. After cooling to room temperature, the nanoparticles were collected with centrifugation (7800 r.p.m., 10 min) after precipitation by adding 3 ), and CF 3 COONa (0.5 mmol) were added. After removing low boiling cyclohexane, water and oxygen with vigorous stirring under vacuum, the mixture was then heated to 325°C at a heating rate of 15°C min − 1 and kept for 60 min under N 2 atmosphere.…”

“…Five milliliter of as-prepared β-NaGdF 4 :Yb,Tm nanoparticles were redispersed in a mixture of OA and ODE (40 mmol, molar ratio: 1:1). Then, Gd(CF 3 COO) 3 (1 mmol) and CF 3 COONa (1 mmol) were added. The slurry was heated to 110°C to remove low boiling cyclohexane, water, and oxygen with vigorous stirring under vacuum.…”

“…Female Balb/c nude mice (16)(17)(18)(19)(20) 3 . The tumor-bearing mice were randomized into six groups (n = 3, each group).…”

Mesoporous carbon biomaterials

“…Of the carbon-family members, sp 2 carbon-based materials such as fullerene [4,5], carbon nanotubes [1,[6][7][8][9][10][11], carbon dots [12][13][14], and graphene [15][16][17][18], have been explored for promising applications in biomedicine, including drug delivery, gene transfection, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, biosensing, and even tissue engineering [19][20][21]. For instance, the hollow space in fullerene/carbon nanotubes and large surface-to-volume ratio of graphene can be used for the encapsulation and intracellular delivery of therapeutic agents.…”