Carbon-60 (C60) is a spherical carbon fullerene nanoparticle that is of interest for its potential therapeutic benefits. However, its analysis is complicated by C60 insolubility in aqueous solutions. Commercial preparations are therefore often resuspended in olive oil. We have characterized C60 in olive oil vs. DMSO using UV/Vis to evaluate its absorbance and level of suspension. Its biological activity was investigated in immortalized mammalian cells by exposing the cells to resuspended C60 and comparing the effects to olive oil or DMSO alone. Human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells were cultivated in DMEM complete media supplemented with 10% FBS. Various concentrations of pure C60 dissolved in olive oil or DMSO were then added, and the effects on ATP production and viability were evaluated. Cell viability was measured using a resazurin-based fluorescent assay in which living cells convert resazurin to the fluorescent resorufin, which can be measured using a plate reader. The rate of cell metabolism (as indicated by ATP levels) was determined using the Cell Titer-Glo assayTM, a luciferase-based assay in which ATP levels correlate with light output. The amount of light emitted was measured using a luminometer. Results indicate that C60 exerts a pronounced cytotoxic effect on HEK 293 cells that proportionally increases with increasing concentration.

Characterizing cytotoxic activity of carbon-60 (buckminsterfullerene)

2019 Spring National Meeting

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