Journal of Nanomaterials
Volume 2015 (2015), Article ID 565638, 11 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/565638

Review Article

Applications of Anti/Prooxidant Fullerenes in Nanomedicine along with Fullerenes Influence on the Immune System

Danijela Petrovic,¹ Mariana Seke,² Branislava Srdjenovic,³ and Aleksandar Djordjevic⁴

¹Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Faculty of Education Sombor, University of Novi Sad, 25 000 Novi Sad, Serbia
²lnstitute of Nuclear Sciences “Vinca”, University of Belgrade, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia
³Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21 000 Novi Sad, Serbia
⁴Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, 21 000 Novi Sad, Serbia

Received 16 April 2015; Accepted 21 July 2015

Academic Editor: Subhrajit Saha

Copyright © 2015 Danijela Petrovic et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Fullerenes are molecules that, due to their unique structure, have very specific chemical properties which offer them very wide array of applications in nanomedicine. The most prominent are protection from radiation-induced injury, neuroprotection, drug and gene delivery, anticancer therapy, adjuvant within different treatments, photosensitizing, sonosensitizing, bone reparation, and biosensing. However, it is of crucial importance to be elucidated how fullerenes immunomodulate human system of defense. In addition, the most current research, merging immunology and nanomedicine, results in development of nanovaccines, which may represent the milestone of future treatment of diseases.

1. Introduction

The aim of this review is to report the most recent progress on applications of fullerene C₆₀ and its derivatives in nanomedicine, as well as the influence of fullerene nanoparticles on immune system. Being novel substances, fullerenes generate considerable interest particularly in terms of their toxicity, biokinetics, biodegradation, and possible immune responses. This paper emphasizes the fullerene’s antioxidative properties, but also its prooxidative features, as well as the impact of fullerenes on the cells of innate and adaptive immunity.

The fullerene C₆₀ due to its physicochemical properties has the ability to both scavenge and generate reactive oxygen species. Antioxidant capacity of C₆₀ is based on highly delocalized π double bond system functioning as a “free radical sponge” and quenching different free radical species more efficiently than conventional antioxidants [1, 2]. Fullerenes may also induce prooxidant effects and this is likely to be dictated by the fullerene in question, the cell type being investigated, and the experimental setup [3–6]. The solubility of C₆₀ in polar solutions is very low, which greatly limits its potential applications in medicine. However, due to the presence of double bonds, C₆₀ can be easily modified with chemical groups that allow its better water solubility. In that way, water-soluble C₆₀ derivatives expand their opportunities for various medical applications such as protection from radiation-induced injury, neuroprotection, drug and gene delivery, therapy against many diseases and processes, photosensitizing, sonosensitizing, bone reparation, and biosensing.

2. Protection from Radiation-Induced Injury, Ionizing Radiation, and UVA

The main event during exposure of living organisms to ionizing radiation is DNA damage and formation of DNA double-strand breaks. Two mechanisms are involved: direct damage of DNA by the radiation energy or indirect damage mediated through reactive oxygen species such as radicals, peroxides, and superoxides, produced during the water radiolysis. In the case of gamma radiation and X-rays, where low linear energetic transfer is present, a predominant proportion of the radiation damage results from the indirect mechanism. Fullerenol C₆₀(OH)₂₄ has been proven to be promising protector against ionizing radiation. Stankov et al. have shown better cell survival in fullerenol-pretreated irradiated leukemic cells and significant overexpression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL genes as well as antioxidative cytoprotective genes such as GSTA4, MnSOD, NOS, CAT, and HO-1 [7]. Unlike ionizing radiation, UVA radiation has far less energy but it also affects cells in an oxygen-dependent manner. Cellular targets are various including DNA, proteins, and membranes. 8-Oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine has been identified in several cell types as the major DNA oxidation product of UVA radiation [8]. This ubiquitous DNA oxidation product can be produced by hydroxyl radical (OH), singlet oxygen (¹O₂), one-electron oxidants, or peroxynitrite [9]. In the research of Eropkin and coworkers, different forms of fullerenols demonstrated dual activity. Fullerenols C₆₀(OH)18–24 and C₆₀(OH)30–38 showed a protective effect against UVA-induced phototoxicity as well as broad spectrum of antiviral activity in vitro against actual strains of human influenza virus A(H1N1) and A(H3N2), avian influenza A(H5N1), human herpes simplex virus, adenovirus, and respiratory-syncytial virus. Fullerenols did not show toxic effects toward human and animal cells of various tissue origins [10]. Kato et al. have used fullerene-C₆₀/liposome complex as UVA protector. The complex of 250–500 ppm restored HaCaT keratinocytes viability after the UVA-irradiation of 10 J/cm². According to fluorescent immunostaining, C₆₀ was mainly located around the outside of nuclear membrane without impairment of cell morphology [11]. Further, the complex was administered on the surface of three-dimensional human skin tissue model, rinsed out before each UVA-irradiation at 4 J/cm², and thereafter added again, followed by 19-cycle repetition for 4 days (sum: 76 J/cm²). Skin damage involved breakdown of collagen type I/IV, DNA strand cleavage, and pycnosis/karyorrhexis and was significantly reduced by the complex [12].

3. Neuroprotection

Oxidative stress on nervous tissue can produce damage by several interacting mechanisms, including increases in intracellular free Ca²⁺ and release of excitatory amino acids as well as excessive production of reactive oxygen species in the presence of “catalytic” iron or copper ions. Free radical reactions are also involved in the neurotoxicity of aluminum and in damage to the substantia nigra in patients with Parkinson’s disease [13]. Oxidative stress generated in this regard causes physical damage to neurons by demyelination, mitochondrial dysfunction, microtubular damage, and apoptosis [14]. Ameliorating properties of fullerene derivatives on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition induced by organophosphates have been investigated by Ehrich and coworkers [15]. Organophosphorus compounds (OP) are widely used as insecticides and their primary mechanism of action is inhibition of AChE which is followed by cholinergic poisoning. Rapid AChE inhibition occurring after OP exposure has been reported to result in oxidative stress, as indicated by reduction in glutathione, increases in reactive oxygen species, and production of stress proteins [16]. Ehrich et al. used hen brain and human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells as model systems. Cells were incubated with eight different derivatized fullerene compounds before challenge with paraoxon or diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP). Activities of brain and SH-SY5Y AChE with OP compounds alone ranged from 55 to 83% lower than nontreated controls after paraoxon and from 60 to 92% lower than nontreated controls after DFP. Most of the incubations containing 1 and 10 μM fullerene derivatives brought AChE activity closer to untreated controls, with improvements in AChE activity. The fullerene derivatives demonstrated significant antioxidant capability in neuroblastoma cells at 1 μM concentrations. No fullerene derivative at 1 μM significantly affected neuroblastoma cell viability [15]. The other group has generated nanocomplex of fullerene C₆₀ formulated with poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidine) (PVP) or poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline)s (POx) homopolymer and random copolymer. Tracking of the selected formulations during cellular uptake and their intracellular distribution were performed in catecholaminergic neurons. C₆₀-POx and C₆₀-PVP complexes exhibited similar physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities. C₆₀-POx complex, but not C₆₀-PVP complex, was efficiently taken up by neurons and attenuated the increase of intraneuronal superoxide induced by angiotensin II stimulation [17].

Bearing in mind that free radical injury has been specifically implicated in the pathogenesis of different neurodegenerative disorders, Vorobyov and coworkers have used amyloid-β (Aβ) rat model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to study the effects of hydrated fullerene C₆₀ (C₆₀HyFn). Interrelations between EEG frequency spectra from the frontal cortex and the dorsal hippocampus (CA1) were considered. Infusion of Aβ1–42 protein into the CA1 region two weeks before EEG testing decreased hippocampal theta predominance and eliminated cortical beta predominance observed in baseline EEG of rats infused with saline or with C₆₀HyFn alone. In contrast, these Aβ1–42 effects were eliminated in rats pretreated with C₆₀HyFn. Further, to clear up the role of dopaminergic mediation in AD, peripheral injection of a dopamine agonist, apomorphine, was applied. In rats infused with C₆₀HyFn or Aβ1–42 alone, APO attenuated the cortical beta predominance while pretreatment with C₆₀HyFn decreased the apomorphine effect in the Aβ1–42-treated rats. Altogether, intrahippocampal injection of Aβ1–42 dramatically disrupts cortical versus hippocampal EEG interrelations and pretreatment with C₆₀HyFn eliminates this abnormality [18]. In another model against β-amyloid- (Aβ)(25–35-) induced toxicity toward Neuro-2A cells, scientists investigated C₆₀ fullerene derivative incorporating poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-C(60)-3) and its pentoxifylline-bearing hybrid (PTX-C(60)-2). PEG-C(60)-3 and PTX-C(60)-2 significantly reduced Aβ(25–35-) induced cytotoxicity, with comparable activities in decreasing reactive oxygen species and maintaining the mitochondrial membrane potential. Aβ(25–35) treatment caused adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase-associated autophagy. Cytoprotection by PEG-C(60)-3 and PTX-C(60)-2 was partially diminished by an autophagy inhibitor, indicating that the caused autophagy and antioxidative activities protected cells from Aβ damage [19].

Glutamates are the carboxylate anions and salts of glutamic acid. Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter which in higher concentration results in excitotoxicity causing degeneration of neurons and their death. Glutamate binds to metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and triggers a signaling cascade. Detrimental role of group II mGluRs during hypoxic conditions has been described [20]. Giust et al. suggested that [60]fullerene hydrosoluble derivative through modulation of mGluRs could be protective against hypoxia. They used human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) to evaluate the long time (24, 48, and 72 hours) effects of the trans-3 isomer of [60]fullerene (t3ss). Low oxygen concentration (5% O₂) caused cell death, which was avoided by t3ss exposure in a concentration dependent manner [21].

Knowing that neural cells are terminally differentiated and that damaged neurons are difficult to regenerate, C₆₀ derivatives could be helpful in solving this problem. In the study of Tsumoto and coworkers, water-soluble C₆₀ derivatives are shown to have an enhancing effect on the neurite outgrowth. They used rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells as a model of nerve cells. PC12 cells were treated with neurite growth factor (NGF) resulting in the induction of differentiation and the formation of neurites. Firstly, it was examined whether or not C₆₀ derivatives have similar activity to NGF. However, no effects as seen with NGF were observed. Next, the effect of C₆₀ derivatives on neurite outgrowth in NGF-treated PC12 cells was examined. PC12 cells that were treated with NGF plus 0–50 µM C₆₀ derivative formed neurites and both neurite number and length of outgrowth increased in a dose-dependent manner, reaching a maximum at 25 µM [22].

4. Drug Delivery

Designing multifunctionalized C₆₀ systems able to be efficiently targeted to specific tissues, cross cell membranes, and delivery active agents is still an attracting challenge which involves multidisciplinary approach. In the study of Zhang and coworkers was developed a new kind of active targeting. Hyaluronic acid (HA) was grafted onto C₆₀ and then combined with transferrin (Tf) to obtain a multifunctional drug delivery system (HA-C₆₀-Tf) with significant tumour targeting efficacy as well as capacity for photodynamic therapy. After this step, artesunate (AS) was adsorbed on HA-C₆₀-Tf. MCF-7 cells and tumour-bearing murine model were used to evaluate antitumour efficacy. AS-loaded HA-C60-Tf showed enhanced antitumour efficacy in comparison with free AS in both cases. Furthermore, with laser irradiation in vivo, the relative tumour volume (V/V0) of HA-C₆₀-Tf/AS declined by half [23].

5. Therapeutic Agents

5.1. Antioxidant

Fullerenol (C₆₀(OH)₂₄ nanoparticles, FNP) is a symmetrical derivative of C₆₀ with good water solubility. In aqueous solutions, it is in the form of poly anionic nanoparticles whose size distribution is in range between 20 nm and 200 nm with the largest number of measurements between 30 nm and 100 nm [24]. Srdjenovic et al. have determined its size distribution and ζ-potential in cell culture RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). According to their results, the size distribution of FNP nanoparticles was not affected by FBS and/or cell medium and formation of large particles was not induced but caused reduction in ζ-potential of nanoparticles (from −58 mV to −7,9 mV). The researchers also investigated the influence of FNP on Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) survival, as well as antioxidant capacity of FNP in mitomycin C-treated cell line. It has been shown that activity of antioxidative enzymes was increased in dose-dependent manner. Further results confirmed that FNP did not induce genotoxic effects; on the contrary, antigenotoxic effects of FNP were confirmed in the experiment done on MMC-damaged CHO-K1 cells in concentrations of 11–221.6 μM [25]. Fullerenol with its antioxidant activity can also mediate oxidative stress-induced senescence. Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and ARPE-19 cells were exposed to pulsed H₂O₂ stress for 5 days. Fullerenol protected the RPE cells, as it reduced the number of senescence positive cells, alleviated the depletion of cellular antioxidants, and reduced genomic DNA damage [26].

The results of Bal et al.’s study provide preliminary indication that hydrated nanoparticles of pristine C₆₀ display the superior antioxidant activity necessary to effectively alleviate diabetic complications by elimination of testicular apoptosis and consequent histopathological abnormalities, thus resulting in elevation of testosterone level and increase of sperm content and motility [27]. In a quite different study, Baati et al. wanted to find out whether the lifespan can be prolonged. They administered C₆₀ dissolved in olive oil (0.8 mg/mL) orally at reiterated doses (1.7 mg/kg of body weight) to rats and demonstrated that it did not entail chronic toxicity but it almost doubled their lifespan. The effects of C₆₀ olive oil solutions in an experimental model of CCl₄ intoxication in rat strongly suggested that the effect on lifespan is mainly due to the attenuation of age-associated increase in oxidative stress [28]. Antioxidant properties of fullerene derivatives have also been examined in studies of hair loss. Patients suffering different conditions such as alopecia, chemotherapy, and reactions to various chemicals could benefit from these findings. Zhou et al. [29] reported that fullerene derivatives accelerated the hair growth in mice and human skin. In addition, these molecules significantly increase the number of hair follicles. Finally, the most recent paper on the treatment of liver injury with C₆₀ derivative tells us that interest in fullerene application is still high [30].

5.2. Antitumour and Antimetastatic Agent

Modulation of oxidative stress in tumour tissues, inhibition of the formation of angiogenesis factors, and subsequent reduction in tumour vessel density and the nutrient supply to tumour cells could be important mechanisms by which fullerenol C₆₀(OH)₂₀ aggregates inhibit tumour growth and suppress carcinoma metastasis in vivo [31]. In the case against KSHV-associated primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), seven water-soluble fullerene derivatives were investigated as potential drug candidates. It was discovered that pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative, 1,1,1′,1′-tetramethyl [60]fullerenodipyrrolidinium diiodide, induced apoptosis of PEL cells. Pyrrolidinium fullerene treatment significantly reduced the viability of PEL cells compared with KSHV-uninfected lymphoma cells and induced the apoptosis of PEL cells by activating caspase-9 via procaspase-9 cleavage [32]. The results of Hu et al. suggested that folacin C₆₀ derivative has the potential to prevent oxidative stress-induced cell death without evident toxicity. The folacin C₆₀ derivative self-assembled to form spherical aggregates in water. Because the compound was amphiphilic, it could penetrate the cell membrane and protect PC12 cells against hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity [33, 34]. Methanofullerene derivative [60] bearing four carboxylic groups, whose sodium and potassium salts are water soluble, is compound that has been confirmed to possess antiviral and anticancer activity as well as pronounced antioxidant properties in combination with a low toxicity. The anticancer activity was assessed on murine leukemia P388 tumour-bearing mice. Antiviral activity of  1-Na was investigated against HIV-1 and HIV-2 and showed comparable activity against both virus strains [35].

5.3. Photosensitizers and Sonosensitizers

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is light-based therapy which is a nonsurgical procedure, with minimally invasive approach that has been used in the treatment of many solid cancers as well as other diseases [36]. PDT requires the simultaneous presence of a photosensitizer, oxygen, and light. Fullerenes possess some of the advantages in comparison to the other types of photosensitizers: (1) they are comparatively more photostable and demonstrate less photobleaching when compared with tetrapyrroles and synthetic dyes; (2) fullerenes show both kinds of photochemistry comprising free radicals and singlet oxygen while tetrapyrroles demonstrate largely singlet oxygen; (3) fullerenes can be chemically modified for tuning the drug’s partition coefficient and values for the variation of in vivo lipophilicity and the prediction of their distribution in biological systems; (4) to enhance the overall quantum yield and the ROS production and to extend their absorption spectrum further into the red wavelengths, a light-harvesting antennae can be chemically attached to C₆₀; (5) molecular self-assembly of fullerene cages into vesicles allow improved drug delivery and can produce self-assembled nanoparticles that may have different tissue-targeting properties [37]. Radical scavenging studies using the 1,1′-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical showed that C₆₀ in combination with human serum albumin (C₆₀/HSA) had an increased antioxidant activity, compared to HSA alone. Further, C₆₀/HSA efficiently generated not only superoxide anion radicals but also singlet oxygen ¹O₂ through photoirradiation. C₆₀/HSA showed A549 cell toxicity characteristics after light irradiation, but no toxicity was observed in the absence of irradiation. In this way, C₆₀/HSA not only has an excellent stability and antioxidant activity but also has considerable phototoxicity properties [38]. Ikeda et al. have investigated the cationic C₆₀ derivative·γ-CDx complex and showed that it had higher photodynamic ability than pristine C₆₀ because the complex possessed the ability to generate high levels of ¹O₂ and provided a higher level of intracellular uptake. The photodynamic activity of this complex was also greater than photofrin, which is the most widely used clinical photosensitizer [39]. The other cationic derivative of C₆₀ was examined in vivo by Lu et al. They used C₆₀ functionalized with three dimethylpyrrolidinium groups (BF₆) which had been shown as highly active broad-spectrum antimicrobial photosensitizer in vitro when combined with white-light illumination. In the in vivo study, two mouse models of infected wounds, potentially lethal, were used. An excisional wound on the mouse back was contaminated with one of two stable bioluminescent Gram-negative species, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A solution of BF₆ was placed into the wound followed by delivery of up to 180 J/cm² of broadband white light (400–700 nm). In both cases, there was a light-dose-dependent reduction of bioluminescence from the wound, not observed in control groups (light alone or BF₆ alone). Fullerene-mediated photodynamic therapy of mice infected with P. mirabilis led to 82% survival compared with 8% survival without treatment. Photodynamic therapy of mice infected with highly virulent P. aeruginosa did not lead to survival, but when photodynamic therapy was combined with a suboptimal dose of the antibiotic tobramycin (6 mg/kg for 1 day) there was a synergistic therapeutic effect with a survival of 60% compared with a survival of 20% with tobramycin alone [40].

Nanomaterials with multifunctional characteristics such as, for cancer diagnosis, PDT, radiofrequency, thermal therapy, and magnetic targeting applications have become more and more popular in nanomedicine. One such hybrid is the nanocomposite synthesized via decorating iron oxide nanoparticles (IONP) onto fullerene (C₆₀) and then functionalized by polyethylene glycol (PEG2000), giving C₆₀-IONP-PEG excellent stability in physiological solutions. Hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME), a new photodynamic anticancer drug, was conjugated to C₆₀-IONP-PEG, forming a C₆₀-IONP-PEG/HMME drug delivery system, which showed an excellent magnetic targeting ability in cancer therapy. Compared with free HMME, remarkably enhanced photodynamic cancer cell killing effect using C₆₀-IONP-PEG/HMME was realized not only in cultured B16-F10 cells in vitro but also in an in vivo murine tumour model due to 23-fold higher HMME uptake of tumour and strong photodynamic activity of C₆₀-IONP-PEG [41]. In another study by Shi and coworkers, folic acid (FA), a widely used tumour targeting molecule, was linked to C₆₀-IONP-PEG in order to obtain an active tumour targeting effect to MCF-7 cells and malignant tumour in mice models. C₆₀-IONP-PEG-FA served not only as a powerful tumour diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent but also as a strong photosensitizer and powerful agent for photothermal ablation of tumour. Furthermore, a remarkable synergistic enhancement of PDT combination with thermal therapy was also observed during the treatment both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the multifunctional nanoplatform also could selectively kill cancer cells in highly localized regions via the excellent active tumour targeting and magnetic target abilities [42].

On the other hand, sonodynamic therapy is based on the sonosensitizing agent (sonosensitizer) and its subsequent activation by ultrasound irradiation. Yumita et al. have examined polyhydroxy fullerene (PHF) and the participation of lipid peroxidation in the mechanism of the sonodynamically induced antitumour effect. Sarcoma 180 cells were exposed to 2 MHz ultrasound in the presence and the absence of PHF. Significant enhancement of the rates of both ultrasonically induced cell damage and lipid peroxidation was observed in the presence of PHF and was positively correlated with PHF. The enhancement of cell damage and lipid peroxidation with PHF was suppressed by reactive oxygen scavengers such as histidine and tryptophan [43].

5.4. Biosensors

A major problem for the application of biosensors is their reduction of performance caused by the inactivation of biomolecules. In order to solve this problem, antioxidant defense systems have been used to reduce the oxidative damage. In the study of Guo et al., polyhydroxylated fullerene derivatives (C₆₀(OH)x) were introduced into hemoglobin (Hb) electrochemical biosensors through layer-by-layer assembly. Not only have C₆₀(OH)x provided a favorable microenvironment to realize the direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin, but they have been successfully used as protective compounds to reduce the oxidant damage caused by the attack of H₂O₂ as well [44].

5.5. Bone Repair

Fracture healing involves complex processes of cell and tissue proliferation and differentiation. Many players are involved including growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, antioxidants, bone breakdown (osteoclast) and bone building (osteoblast) cells, hormones, amino acids, and various other nutrients. Traumatic injuries and pathological conditions, such as osteoporosis, osteonecrosis, and bone tumours, can lead to bone fractures that do not heal through endogenous mechanisms. Yang et al. have applied an innovative approach to solve the issue. They used fullerol as a strong antioxidant to enhance osteogenic differentiation in adipose-derived stem cells. When incubated together with osteogenic medium, fullerenol promoted osteogenic differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. It was also proved that fullerenol promoted expression of FoxO1, a major functional isoform of forkhead box O transcription factors that defend against reactive oxygen species in bone [45]. It was also shown that fullerenol can be potentially used for prevention and treatment of corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis. Liu et al. evaluated the effect of fullerenol on adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of a mouse bone marrow derived multipotent cell line, D1. Simultaneous treatment of dexamethasone with antioxidant glutathione or fullerenol decreased the number of cells containing lipid vesicles. Treatment with dexamethasone for 7 days resulted in a significant increase in adipogenic markers peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and adipocyte protein 2 gene expression. In addition, decrease in expression of osteogenic markers runt-related transcription factor 2 and osteocalcin and antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase was also observed. While glutathione and fullerenol both were able to antagonize the effects of dexamethasone, fullerenol had a greater effect than glutathione. Cellular reactive oxygen species increased after dexamethasone treatment, and addition of fullerenol attenuated this activity which indicated that fullerenol inhibited adipogenesis and simultaneously enhanced osteogenesis by marrow mesenchymal stem cells [46].

5.6. Anti-Inflammatory Agents

Inflammation is a complex immunovascular response which involves immune cells, blood vessels, and molecular mediators with the purpose to eliminate the initial cause of cell injury, to clear out necrotic cells and tissues, and to initiate their reparation. Symptoms of inflammation are unpleasant and can include redness, swollen joint, joint pain, joint stiffness, and loss of joint function. In chronic inflammation or in autoimmune responses, the body’s normally protective immune system causes damage to its own tissues and can lead to various diseases such as different types of arthritis, fibromyalgia, muscular low back pain, muscular neck pain, lupus erythematosus, and cancer. Liu et al. have investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of fullerol on mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRG) under TNF-α induction. Their results undoubtedly suggested that fullerol treatment suppresses the inflammatory responses of DRG and neurons, as well as cellular apoptosis, by decreasing the level of ROS and enhancing antioxidative enzyme gene expression [47]. In the study of Dragojevic-Simic et al., they have compared anti-inflammatory effects of FNP in regard to amifostine (AMI) and indomethacin (IND). FNP and IND, dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide, and AMI, dissolved in saline, were intraperitoneally injected to rats in a dose range of 12.5–75 mg/kg, 3–10 mg/kg, and 50–300 mg/kg, respectively. The carrageenan-induced rat footpad edema test was used for anti-inflammatory evaluation. The drugs were given 30 min before carrageenan injection. Footpad swelling was measured 3 hours after carrageenan application. FNP dose dependently and significantly reduced the extent of footpad edema, comparable to that of IND and significantly better than AMI. Histopathological examination confirmed these results [48].

Dexamethasone (DEX) is a well-known anti-inflammatory drug, whose widespread clinical use is restricted by its serious side effects. By conjugation of DEX with C₆₀, Zhang and coworkers have found that DEX retained the anti-inflammatory activity while side effects were reduced. In mouse thymocytes, the cytotoxicity of DEX-C₆₀ was significantly lower than that of free DEX and much less apoptotic thymocytes were noticed. Interestingly, such reduction of cytotoxicity and apoptosis were not observed when equal moles of free C₆₀ and free DEX were coincubated with thymocytes, suggesting that the conjugation alters the signal pathway of DEX. Researchers have also found that the binding of DEX-C₆₀ onto glucocorticoid receptor (GR) was partially blocked in the thymocytes, which resulted in downregulation of several apoptosis-related genes [49].

Tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) is a naturally occurring tetrapeptide which possesses a wide range of biological activities, including stimulation of phagocytosis, motility, and chemotaxis of phagocytes, for example, neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages. However, the degradation of the peptide in serum, especially caused by leucine aminopeptidase, greatly limits its clinical use [50]. To solve this problem, Xu et al. have come up with the idea to conjugate fullerene C₆₀ to tuftsin by covalently linking with the carboxyl terminal and the amino terminal, respectively. The two compounds, NH₂-etuftsineC₆₀ and C₆₀etuftsine-COOH, were synthesized. The C₆₀etuftsin conjugates showed complete resistance to the leucine aminopeptidase degradation. At the same time, both of the conjugates showed more potent stimulation activities than the free tuftsin in the phagocytosis and chemotaxis of murine peritoneal macrophages. Moreover, they could upregulate significantly the MHC II molecule expression on the surface of macrophages, whereas the free tuftsin shows no such effect. Finally, both conjugates show no toxicity to macrophages [51].

Ischemic stroke can be the cause of brain inflammation. The brain’s kinds of tissue become swollen and the patient could suffer headache and a fever, as well as more severe symptoms in some cases. Glucosamine (GlcN), which attenuates cerebral inflammation after stroke, was combined with fullerenol into conjugates (GlcN-F) and their protective effects regarding stroke-induced cerebral inflammation and cellular damage were examined. Fullerene derivatives or vehicle was administered intravenously in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) immediately after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Treated rats showed an amelioration of neurological symptoms as both fullerenol and GlcN-F prevented neuronal loss in the perilesional area. Cerebral immunoreactivity was reduced in treated WKY and SHR. Expression of IL-1β and TLR-4 was attenuated in fullerenol-treated WKY rats [52].

6. Fullerenes: Misconception or Milestone of Medicine

It is well established that fullerenes have wide spectrum of potential and promising applications in medicine. However, there are many debates about the health and safety issues that fullerenes may have in biological systems. Existing studies report inconclusive and conflicting results regarding the toxicity of fullerene nanoparticles [53]. The first study that reported oxidative damage in brain and gills of largemouth bass [54] later on was proven to be unfounded since it did not include adequate control and could not exclude the effects of impurities. However, the recent study has demonstrated that fullerenes may create risk to benthic organisms, particularly small agglomerates of fullerene [55]. Nakagawa et al. have revealed that C₆₀(OH)₂₄ induced DNA fragmentation in rat hepatocytes, which could be prevented with special pretreatment [56]. Furthermore, study that investigated cytotoxic effects of fullerenol in different cell types concluded that cytotoxicity was cell type specific and that cell cycle was arrested in G1 phase [57]. Saathoff et al. have observed decrease in viability of human epidermal keratinocytes only when treated with the highest concentration of C₆₀(OH)₃₂ (used range was 0.000544–42.5 µg/mL, used fullerenols were C₆₀(OH)₂₀, C₆₀(OH)₂₄, and C₆₀(OH)₃₂) [58]. Surface chemistry and concentration of fullerene nanoparticles, as well as the cell type, are the major factors involved in fullerene toxicity. Development of high-throughput analysis, particularly high-content screening, will enable the generation of toxicological data contributing to the safety assessment of fullerene and its derivatives in biological systems. This will contribute to a better understanding of potentially hazardous effects in humans and the environment [59].

7. Fullerenes and Immunity

One of the main focal points is, undoubtedly, fullerenes’ modulation of possible immune responses. However, a large body of evidence on their influence on immune system is still missing. Previous study by Chen et al. revealed that C₆₀ fullerene derivative, conjugated to bovine thyroglobulin, induced production of fullerene-specific IgG antibodies in immunized mice [60], demonstrating an ability of adaptive arm of immune system to recognize novel chemical species that were encountered. Similar observation was made by Braden et al. who reported IgG antibodies specific to fullerene when it was conjugated to the carrier protein, rabbit serum albumin (RSA) (Figure 1) [61]. The humoral immune response protects the extracellular space, and during initial infection, the adaptive immune system is slow to start but rapidly excludes the invader when the organism is rechallenged with the same pathogen. However, it remains unclear whether it is generation of specific antibodies response of immune system to the fullerene nanoparticle itself or it is response to the conjugate with the carrier proteins. In the case of the latter, it is possibly due to the increase in size of nanoparticle [62].

Figure 1: Response of the cells of innate and adaptive immune system to fullerene. The cells of the innate immune system are the first to respond. When they encounter the intruder, they become activated and start producing different cytokines, which have direct antiviral activity (IFN-γ, TNF-α), deliver stimulatory signals to other cells of the innate system (IL-12, IL-18), initiate inflammation (IL-1α/β, IL-6), or act as chemoattractants that recruit inflammatory cells to the site of infection (MIP-1α, IP-10). During this cascade of events, the antigens are presented to T cells, mainly by DC, which are the professional antigen presenting cells that link the innate and adaptive immune system. When primed, T cells secrete IL-2, which induces their clonal proliferation and development of effector functions. Differentiated effector cells, particularly CD8+ T cells, tackle infection and eliminate the virus. B cells can be activated by cells of innate immunity (IL-21) or directly by antigens, and upon activation they differentiate into plasma cells producing antigen specific antibodies.

The first study to investigate interaction between C₆₀ carboxyfullerene and cells of immune system revealed that C₆₀ was able to protect human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from apoptosis, due to a mechanism that implicated mitochondrial membrane potential integrity [63]. Recent study by Bunz et al. has demonstrated that neither polyhydroxy-C₆₀ (poly-C₆₀) nor N-ethyl-polyamino-C₆₀ (nepo-C₆₀) nanoparticles were able to alert adaptive immunity, since they have had no influence on T cell reactivity (no T cell proliferation was observed as well as no increase in T cell cytokine production was noticed) when PBMCs were treated with these nanoparticles. However, significant increase in production of IL-6 and propagation of CD56+ cells (natural killer cells) indicated that these fullerenes have activated the part of PBMCs that belongs to the innate immunity [64]. Innate arm of the immune system is a part of universal host defense mechanism, present in plants and animals, with molecular modules having probably evolved before the division into these two kingdoms [65]. In humans, when the first line of defense, represented by the physical barrier of skin and mucosa, is compromised, an antigen nonspecific response against the pathogen is delivered by the innate immune system. This system is initiated within a few minutes following the beginning of infection. The innate immune system is composed of many serum proteins (including acute phase proteins and cytokines) and cells, with phagocytes (macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells (DC)) and natural killer (NK) cells being essential for functioning of the system (Figure 1) [66].

Liu et al. have demonstrated, in a murine H22 hepatoma model, that fullerene derivatives (Gd@C₈₂(OH)₂₂) were able to activate T lymphocyte and to increase the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells, improving anticancer activity. In addition, they have showed an enhanced production of cytokine TNF-alpha by macrophages confirming the induction of complete immune response, both innate and adaptive, and reducing a tumour neoformation in this model by around 60% [67]. Furthermore, the same group has demonstrated that water-soluble fullerenol C₆₀(OH)₂₀ nanoparticles have immunomodulatory ability on both T cells and macrophages (Figure 1). These nanoparticles increased the Th1 response (IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha), decreased Th2 response (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6), and were able to increase the production of TNF-alpha by T cells and macrophages almost threefold [68]. Previous study by Zhu et al. has also revealed fullerenol C₆₀(OH)x immunomodulatory activity on macrophages, whose activation busted the innate immunity and therefore considerably inhibited the enlargement of murine H22 hepatocarcinoma [69].

Interaction between dendritic cells (DC) and natural killer (NK) cells may be crucial in shaping the innate response. Namely, DCs activate NK cells via production of IL-12 and IL-18 or via expression of NK-activating ligands [70]. In addition, DCs are the most important antigen presenting cells (APC), whose main function is to ingest, process, and present antigen to T cells, having a crucial role in networking the innate and adaptive immune responses. Influence of fullerenes on DC has also been reported (Figure 1). In mouse model, gado fullerenol (Gd@C₈₂(OH)₂₂)(n) nanoparticles induced maturation and activation of DC as well as enhancement of Th1 immune response (IFN-gamma), thus providing understanding for great antitumour activity of (Gd@C₈₂(OH)₂₂)(n) nanoparticles [71]. Interestingly, a recent study has shown that the same gado fullerenol nanoparticle could disturb and block proline-rich motif from binding to SH3 domain, which are rather common in protein-protein interaction, frequently used during the establishment of immune or cellular regulatory responses [72]. Previously, the same group has published observation that this nanoparticle significantly reduces activity of matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) which contributes to inhibition of neoplastic growth in human pancreatic cancer grafts in a nude mouse model. Since MMPs are known to participate in angiogenesis and variety of immune interactions, it is expected that suppression of MMP activity will result in decline of tumour survival and invasion [73].

A gene microarray analysis on zebrafish embryos, microinjected with a sublethal dose of hydroxylated fullerenes (C₆₀(OH)₂₄), demonstrated significant change in expression of different genes involved in immune response [74]. The same group, using another fish model (Pimephales promelas) and using quantitative PCR, has confirmed that hydroxylated fullerenes caused changes at the mRNA levels of highly conserved genes involved in innate immunity [75]. A recent computational study has shown that C₆₀ fullerenes can act as ligands for toll-like receptors (TLRs) and therefore can be recognized as pathogens, inducing proinflammatory immune response (IL-8, MCP-1) [76]. Additionally, strong splenic inflammation with increased production of IL-2 and TNF-alpha was observed in mice spleen tissue [77]. However, some studies emphasized strong anti-inflammatory responses of fullerene C₆₀. In adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats [78], C₆₀ decreased neutrophil phagocytic activity and production of antinuclear antibodies, resulting in inflammation decline, and also facilitated in restitution of spleen morphology. Furthermore, inorganic fullerene-like nanoparticles (molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles) significantly decreased proinflammatory immune response (IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha) in nontransformed human bronchial cells [79].

A very challenging area in immunology is, certainly, vaccine development. A novel approach to combat infectious diseases is evolution of nanovaccines, which will be able to cure and prevent diseases better than currently used vaccines. Explicitly, nanoparticles are used to deliver components to which is desired a specific immune response, to increase adjuvant activity and to enhance antigenicity of the vaccine components [62]. A recent study by Xu et al. has proved that fullerenol nanoparticles can act as virus-like particles and can be used as the dual-functional nanoadjuvant for HIV DNA vaccine. Namely, they have proved that this vaccine design enables innate immune response via activation of multiple TLRs and their signaling pathways, resulting in decrease of antigen dosage and frequency in immunization, while keeping immunity levels capable of battling the HIV infection at an early stage [80]. Hence, fullerenol nanovaccine was able to trigger desirable immune response and to enhance targeting of specific components of immune system.

Since nanovaccines have a great potential in site-specific delivery of antigens, improved bioavailability of antigen components, and a reduced side effect profile [81], they may have a major role in the vaccine design in the future. This is incredibly important, specially for the infections with currently no available vaccines, which are global health burden, such as hepatitis C or HIV, distributed worldwide with a number of infected individuals constantly rising.

8. Conclusion

This review represents an overview of the most relevant publications on fullerene C60 and its derivatives applications, with the anti/prooxidative features being a central to the topic. Antioxidative properties are implied in majority of observed phenomena caused by fullerenes (radiation-induced injury protection, neuroprotection, anti-inflammatory agent, drug and gene delivery, antitumour therapy, adjuvant within different treatments, and bone reparation). However, prooxidative characteristics were utilized in photodynamic and sonodynamic treatments. Furthermore, fullerenes have potential to modulate immune cells function leading to effects on cytokine production, in order to create the cytokine milieu that is favourable for appropriate immune response. This feature is explored for vaccine design, but full understanding of fullerene nanoparticle and immune system interactions are to be further elucidated. Nevertheless, this promising strategy in vaccine development is exceptionally valuable in rapid discovery of new vaccines, as potential tools for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgment

This study was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, Grant no. III45005, “Functional, functionalized and accomplished nanomaterials.”

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