Fullerene [60] encapsulated water-soluble supramolecular cage for prevention of oxidative stress-induced myocardial injury

Guanzhao Zhang; Hui Fang; Shuting Chang; Renzeng Chen; Lanlan Li; Danbo Wang; Yamei Liu; Ruyi Sun; Yingjie Zhao; Bo Li

doi:10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100693

Fullerene [60] encapsulated water-soluble supramolecular cage for prevention of oxidative stress-induced myocardial injury

Mater Today Bio. 2023 Jun 17:21:100693. doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100693. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Authors

Guanzhao Zhang¹, Hui Fang^{2

3}, Shuting Chang⁴, Renzeng Chen², Lanlan Li⁵, Danbo Wang², Yamei Liu⁶, Ruyi Sun³, Yingjie Zhao², Bo Li¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiology, Binzhou Medical University, Zibo Central Hospital, NO.10, South Shanghai Road, Zibo, 255000, China.
² College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China.
³ School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China.
⁴ Weifang Medical University, NO.7166, Baotong West Street, Weifang, 261053, China.
⁵ Center of Translational Medicine, Zibo Central Hospital, NO.10, South Shanghai Road, Zibo, 255000, China.
⁶ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Ageing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.

Abstract

A water-soluble cube-like supramolecular cage was constructed by an engagement of six molecules through a hydrophobic effect in the water. The obtained cage could perfectly encapsulate one fullerene C₆₀ molecule inside of the cavity and significantly improve the water-solubility of the C₆₀ without changing the original structure. The water-soluble complex was further applied to reduce the reactive oxygen species (R.O.S.) in cardiomyocytes (FMC84) through Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Furthermore, in the mouse model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, the application of C₆₀ was found to be effective in reducing myocardial injury and improving cardiac function. It also reduced the levels of R.O.S. in myocardial tissue, inhibited myocardial apoptosis, and mitigated myocardial inflammatory responses. The present study provides a new guideline for constructing water-soluble C₆₀ and verifies the important role of C₆₀ in preventing oxidative stress-related cardiovascular disease injury.

Keywords: Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway; Fullerene; Molecular cage; Myocardial cells; Oxidative stress.