A Bio‐Conjugated Fullerene as a Subcellular‐Targeted and Multifaceted Phototheranostic Agent

• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202101527
• Publication Date: 2021-03-09T18:17:13Z
• Authors: Matteo Di Giosia; Alice Soldà; Markus Seeger; Andrea Cantelli; Fabio Arnesano; Maria I. Nardella; Vincenzo Mangini; Francesco Valle; Marco Montalti; Francesco Zerbetto; Stefania Rapino; Matteo Calvaresi; Vasilis Ntziachri...
• Keywords: Biocompatibility; HeLa; Nanocellulose

Abstract Fullerenes are candidates for theranostic applications because of their high photodynamic activity and intrinsic multimodal imaging contrast. However, fullerenes suffer from low solubility in aqueous media, poor biocompatibility, cell toxicity, a tendency to aggregate. C 70 @lysozyme is introduced herein as novel bioconjugate that harmless cellular environment, yet also photoactive has excellent optical optoacoustic contrast tracking uptake intracellular localization. The formation, water‐solubility, photoactivity, unperturbed structure confirmed using UV‐visible 2D 1 H, 15 N NMR spectroscopy. third harmonic generation microscopy exploited monitor its HeLa cells lysosomal trafficking. Last, the photoactivity ability initiate death by means singlet oxygen ( O 2 ) production upon exposure levels white light irradiation demonstrated. This study introduces other fullerene‐protein conjugates potential applications.