Potential Medical Applications of Fullerenes: An Overview

Scientists from diverse fields have been intrigued by fullerenes ever since their discovery. The drug-like size, high molecular symmetry, hydrophobicity, and unique electronic configuration of fullerenes renders them potential candidates for investigation as therapeutic agents. The initial difficulty associated with their water-insoluble nature has been successfully eliminated with the use of functionalized fullerenes, without significantly compromising the basic nature of fullerenes. Hence fullerenes are being intensively investigated with respect to their potential anticancer, antiviral, neuroprotectant, and antibacterial activities, as well as the possibility of exploiting them as a carrier for drug and gene delivery. The present overview provides a summary of advancements in the field of biomedical applications of fullerenes.