Buckminsterfullerene, C60, is a nanoparticle of current interest due to its unique properties and wide range of applications from biomedical uses to the conversion of energy. It is estimated, that roughly 10 tons of buckminsterfullerene is being produced each year. The current disposal method and MSDS follows that of carbon black, due to the lack of environmental and biological impact data for C60. Despite being hydrophobic, when pristine C60 comes into contact with water, aggregation begins to take place to yield hydrophilic colloids, termed nC60. Several synthesis methods have been developed, including simply stirring pristine C60 in water open to ambient atmosphere, ultrasonication treatments, as well as several solvent exchange methods. When forming colloidal C60, it has also been found that the oxide adduct, C60O, is necessary in forming the colloids. To evaluate the environmental impacts of nC60, several oxidation studies will be conducted. First, using dihydrorhodamine 123 as a fluorescent tag, where we will be measuring oxidation via fluorescence. Second, we will evaluate the product of reactive oxygen species (ROS) using various enzymes. Lastly, in an effort to use nC60 as a reagent, we will conduct experiments where we subject the aggregate to a long lipid like chain, and evaluate the modifications via 1H-NMR. Some of the earlier literature shows that nC60 causes oxidative damage, however it has been proven that these results stems from the use of solvents such as tetrahydrofuran in the synthesis method. This present study aims to synthesize colloidal C60 using the various methods above, with and without the use of THF, and conduct the three oxidation studies described. All information and data will be presented herein.

Investigation into the synthesis and oxidative toxicity associated with colloidal C60 nanoparticles

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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