Several drugs are currently in use to combat the toxic effects of organophosphates.  These antidotes are often administered as a drug cocktail, but a very limited therapeutic window exists in which they are effective against neurodegeneration.  Attempting to extend this window, antioxidants have been proposed to combat the oxidative stress that is prevalent following exposure to these toxins.  Within the last two decades, fullerenes have been shown through numerous applications to be exceptional radical scavengers.  In this research, we have synthesized several water-soluble fullerene derivatives using the Prato 1,3-cycloaddition method, the Bingel reaction, and several hydroxylation procedures. We then plan to test the efficacy of these derivatives against organophosphates in neuronal cell cultures.  In addition to these basic derivatives, we hope to tether a benzodiazepine molecule to the fullerene cage in an attempt to direct the molecules' localization to the brain and further prevent neurodegeneration.

Synthesis of fullerene derivatives and their ability to combat organophosphate-induced oxidative stress

245th National Meeting (2013)

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