Biological safety of water-soluble fullerenes evaluated using tests for genotoxicity, phototoxicity, and pro-oxidant activity.
We evaluated the safety of water-soluble polymer-enwrapped fullerenes (PVP/fullerenes) as antioxidants in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations by studying the genotoxicity, phototoxicity, and pro-oxidant effects of these fullerenes. These materials were not mutagenic to any of the tested bacterial strains and did not induce chromosomal aberrations in cultured mammalian cells. The PVP/fullerenes did not exhibit cytotoxicity under ultraviolet or sham irradiation in the alternative phototoxicity test. Moreover, they did not show any pro-oxidant effect in the presence of Fe(2+) or Cu(2+). Thus, we concluded that PVP/fullerenes are safe for use in cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. This is the first study in which toxicity tests were performed on PVP/fullerenes.
Vitamin C60 BioResearch Corporation, Tatsunuma Tatemono Bldg, Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. hisae.aoshima@vc60.com
Hisae
H
Aoshima
Shuichi
S
Yamana
Shigeo
S
Nakamura
Tadahiko
T
Mashino
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000633:toxicity*; D041702:BALB 3T3 Cells; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000187:drug effects; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D005260:Female; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects; D012995:Solubility; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014867:Water
D000975:Antioxidants; D037741:Fullerenes; D014867:Water