Nanodrugs are just around the corner: fullerenols are being tested

Konstantin Semenov, an assistant at the Department of Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics of St. Petersburg State University, has been studying carbon nanostructures, in particular fullerenes, at the Department of Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics of the Faculty of Chemistry of St. Petersburg State University since his first courses under the guidance of Professor Nikolai Charykov. Fullerene is an allotropic modification of carbon, which is a spherical structure of its atoms. The closest "relatives" of fullerenes are carbon nanotubes and graphene: if, for example, these "tubes" are expanded, just a monatomic carbon layer – graphene will turn out. All these materials have unique physicochemical properties, thanks to which scientists consider them promising in various fields, from computer technology to medicine.
 
In particular, fullerenes and their derivatives can be used in medicine. Already on their basis, there are two medical drugs released in Russia – one is aimed at combating HIV infection, and the other with the flu virus. Scientists believe that the prospects for the medical use of fullerenes may be wider. "Antiviral, bactericidal, and antioxidant properties of fullerenes and their derivatives are very attractive, for example: they are an effective "trap" for free radicals," explains Konstantin Semenov. "It is this property of theirs that is used in a drug against HIV infection, thanks to it, fullerenes can be used, for example, in cosmetology or, say, as additives for food, to increase shelf life."
 
The problem, however, is the creation and study of such modifications or derivatives of fullerenes that would be compatible with the human body. Within the framework of Konstantin Semenov's dissertation work, carried out under the supervision of Professor N. A. Charykov, the physicochemical properties of fullerene systems - biocompatible solvents with human and animal organisms (natural oils, animal fats, essential oils, etc.) were proposed and studied.

The development of synthesis methods and the study of water-soluble derivatives of fullerenes, which are potential medical preparations, became a continuation of the work on the "biofullerene topic". As a result, a technology was developed that makes it possible to obtain so-called fullerenols (fullerene alcohols) directly from fullerene soot, while the cost of the final product, according to preliminary estimates, is reduced tenfold. It should also be noted that the final product of synthesis does not contain impurities of harmful solvents used in traditional methods of obtaining fullerenols. "Now we are planning to study the biological properties of the fullerenols we have obtained," says Konstantin Semenov. "We are interested in the possibility of their further use for medical purposes."
 
When conducting biological tests, chemists are going to ask for help from fellow biologists of St. Petersburg State University. Scientists intend to test the antioxidant, antiviral and antibacterial properties of fullerenols. In March Konstantin Semenov received a grant from the NAIRIT Foundation ("National Association for Innovation and Development of Information Technologies"), which will be aimed at expanding the synthesis technology and conducting biological tests.
 
"Based on the funding received under the grant, we will be able to conduct primary biological tests and assess the prospects of fullerenols," says Konstantin Semenov. – The creation of medicines is an extremely expensive thing. If, according to the results of biological tests, fullerenols show their effectiveness, we hope to continue research and in the future obtain new medicines. But this will require attracting serious investments."
 
We should add that the relevance of Konstantin Semenov's work was confirmed by the victory in the V All–Russian Forum "Nanotechnology - a breakthrough into the future!" held at Lomonosov Moscow State University. He became the best in the nomination "Carbon nanomaterials".