Proteins as supramolecular hosts for C60: a true solution of C60 in water. Issue 21 (23rd May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Di Giosia, Matteo; Bomans, Paul H. H.; Bottoni, Andrea; Cantelli, Andrea; Falini, Giuseppe; Franchi, Paola; Guarracino, Giuseppe; Friedrich, Heiner; Lucarini, Marco; Paolucci, Francesco; Rapino, Stefania; Sommerdijk, Nico A. J. M.; Soldà, Alice; Valle, Francesco; Zerbetto, Francesco; Calvaresi, Matteo
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 10:Issue 21(2018)
• Page Start: 9908
• Page End: 9916
• Publication Date: 2018-05-23
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/c8nr02220h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : Lysozyme is used as a host molecule to disperse monomolecularly C60 in water preserving the C60 properties. Abstract : Hybrid systems have great potential for a wide range of applications in chemistry, physics and materials science. Conjugation of a biosystem to a molecular material can tune the properties of the components or give rise to new properties. As a workhorse, here we take a C60 @lysozyme hybrid. We show that lysozyme recognizes and disperses fullerene in water. AFM, cryo-TEM and high resolution X-ray powder diffraction show that the C60 dispersion is monomolecular. The adduct is biocompatible, stable in physiological and technologically-relevant environments, and easy to store. Hybridization with lysozyme preserves the electrochemical properties of C60 . EPR spin-trapping experiments show that the C60 @lysozyme hybrid produces ROS following both type I and type II mechanisms. Due to the shielding effect of proteins, the adduct generates significant amounts of 1 O2 also in aqueous solution. In the case of type I mechanism, the protein residues provide electrons and the hybrid does not require addition of external electron donors. The preparation process and the properties of C60 @lysozyme are general and can be expected to be similar to other C60 @protein systems. It is envisaged that the properties of the C60 @protein hybrids will pave the way for a host of applications in nanomedicine, nanotechnology, and photocatalysis.