title: Biomedical Applications of Metal-Encapsulated Fullerene Nanoparticles.
abstract: The carbonaceous nanomaterials known as metallofullerenes have attracted considerable attention due to their attractive properties. The robust nature of the "Trojan Horse" fullerene cage provides an important structural component, which isolates the metal cluster from the bioenvironment. The large carbon surface area is ideally suited for multiple exo-functionalization approaches to modify the hydrophobic cage for a more hydrophilic bioenvironment. Additionally, peptides and other agents are readily covalently attached to this nanoprobe for targeting applications. The recent progress in developing metallofullerenes for next-generation biomedical applications is described. Of special interest are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. Several recent studies reported cumulative gadolinium deposition in the brain and bones of individuals using commercial clinical MRI contrast agents. Gadolinium-based metallofullerenes provide 2-3 orders of magnitude improvement in MRI relaxivity and potentially lower clinical levels of toxic Gd3+ions deposited. Other potential biomedical applications are also reviewed herein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, United States.
authors.forename: Tinghui
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, United States.|Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, United States.
authors.forename: Harry C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Dorn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000379:methods*; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D037741:Fullerenes; D008670:Metals
keywords: diagnostic nanoparticles, therapeutic nanoparticles; gadolinium; magnetic resonance imaging; metallofullerenes