State-of-the-art of polymer/fullerene nanocomposites in biomedical field

Polymer/fullerene nanocomposites are emerging materials with many applications in the biomedical field. To better understand these new nanocomposites, we begin by overviewing the properties of fullerenes and their derivatives, including their structure and physical and chemical properties, such as aggregation and hydrophobicity. The family of fullerenes has a unique chemistry reflected to their ability to form various compounds that include exohedral and endohedral fullerenes. Their ability to generate reactive oxygen species as well as their electromagnetic properties is especially important in biomedical applications as antimicrobials and biosensors. As a result of their minute size and chemical versatility, polymers/fullerene derivatives nanocomposites may be also used in imaging, antitumor therapy, as antioxidants, or for tissue engineering. The toxicity profile of these materials encompasses a wide range, specific functionalization or fabrication conditions being able to render them from toxic to beneficial or vice versa. As with any emerging materials, more toxicity studies are necessary in order to assess the toxicity of each nanocomposite before its commercialization.