Fullerene is one of the nanocarbons that is expected to have applications to life science, such as nanomedicines. An understanding of the cellular influences of fullerene is essential for its application to life science. Although C₆₀ and C₇₀ are both known as major fullerenes, most previous reports about the cellular influences of fullerene are about C₆₀. Thus we evaluated the cellular influences caused by C₇₀. A stable and uniform C₇₀-medium dispersion was prepared. The dispersion was stable for the experimental period. Mitochondrial activity (MTT assay), colony forming ability (clonogenic assay), induction of oxidative stress (intracellular ROS and lipid peroxidation levels) and cellular uptake (TEM observation) in human keratinocyte HaCaT and lung carcinoma A549 cells exposed to C₇₀ were examined. C₇₀ did not influence mitochondrial activity. On the other hand, C₇₀ dispersion inhibited colony formation at the concentration of 25.2 μg mL(-1). Exposure to C₇₀ dispersion caused an increase in intracellular ROS and lipid peroxidation levels. The induction of intracellular ROS level was inhibited by pre-treatment of the cells by antioxidants. TEM observations of C₇₀ exposed cells showed cellular uptake of C₇₀. These results were similar to the cellular influences caused by C₆₀ which were reported by us previously. Although C₇₀ did not cause cell death, it caused the induction of intracellular oxidative stress.
Keywords: Cellular uptake; Cytotoxicity; Fullerene; Oxidative stress.
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