Biological activity of fullerenes - reality and prospects

Abstract

The review deals with the properties of fullerenes and their derivatives and the possibility of their use in biology and medicine. Fullerenes can exert an antioxidant effect in biological systems, catching active forms of oxygen, and oxidative, giving the fullerene photosensitizing properties. The lipophilic fullerene molecules possessing membrane - tropic action interact with various biological structures and can change the functions of these structures, increasing the lipophilicity of the active molecule (amino acids, nucleic acids, proteins, etc.). Data on the biological effect of fullerenes in in vitro and in vivo experiments are given. Examples of targeted delivery of known therapeutic agents. (For citation: Dumpis MA, Nikolaev DN, Litasova EV, et al. Biological activity of fullerenes - reality and prospects. Reviews on Clinical Pharmacology and Drug Therapy. 2018;16(1):4-20. doi: 10.17816/RCF1614-20).