Fullerene-Polymer Complexes for Aqueous Solubility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fullerenes have low water solubility, which limits their bioavailability and stability in aqueous environments, making it difficult to effectively use them in biomedical applications such as photodynamic therapy and antioxidant treatments.
Innovation Solution
The use of hydrophilic or amphiphilic non-conjugated polymers functionalized with groups capable of pi-stacking interactions with fullerenes, combined with mechanochemical treatment, to form stable fullerene-polymer complexes that enhance solubility and stability in water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fullerenes are used in biomedical applications, then antioxidant and photosensitizer properties are improved, but water solubility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses water-soluble polymers as intermediary carriers to solubilize fullerenes in aqueous environments. The polymer-fullerene conjugate acts as a mediator, allowing the hydrophobic fullerene to be delivered in water-based biomedical applications without chemical modification of the fullerene core structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite material systems by combining fullerenes with water-soluble polymers. This composite approach allows the hydrophobic fullerene to be incorporated into hydrophilic polymer matrices, improving water solubility while maintaining the fullerene's beneficial biomedical properties.
2Quantity of substance
If chemical modification is used to improve water solubility, then hydrophilicity is improved, but aromaticity and intrinsic properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of directly modifying the fullerene structure, the patent uses water-soluble polymers as intermediary carriers. This indirect approach allows solubilization without disrupting the fullerene's aromatic core and intrinsic properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the solubilization function from the active fullerene core by using polymer conjugates. The polymer segment provides water solubility while the fullerene segment retains its intrinsic properties, dividing the two conflicting requirements into separate functional components.
3Quantity of substance
If meta-stable dispersions are used to improve solubility, then water dispersibility is improved, but stability and bioavailability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates stable composite materials by covalently conjugating fullerenes with water-soluble polymers. This composite structure provides both water dispersibility and long-term stability, overcoming the meta-stable nature of physical dispersions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the system by forming covalent bonds between fullerene and polymer. This chemical change transforms the system from a physically mixed, meta-stable dispersion to a chemically bonded, stable conjugate with improved bioavailability.
4Quantity of substance
If water soluble carriers are used to improve solubility, then bioavailability is improved, but product stability and purification complexity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The water-soluble polymer carrier provides self-service by inherently solubilizing the fullerene through its hydrophilic nature. The conjugate structure itself enables aqueous solubility without requiring additional purification steps to remove organic solvents, as the polymer-fullerene conjugate is directly water-soluble.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for the preparation of stable, highly soluble fullerene compositions that can be used in biomedical applications, providing improved bioavailability and stability for treatments like photodynamic therapy and antioxidant therapies.
Implementation Method 1
non-conjugated polymer being substituted with at least one substituent comprising a functional group capable of forming intermolecular interactions with fullerenes via pi-stacking
Implementation Method 2
hydrophilic or amphiphilic non-conjugated polymers... are particularly effective as carriers to disperse fullerenes in an aqueous environment
Implementation Method 3
mechanochemical treatment of mixtures of such non-conjugated polymers and fullerenes can lead to the production of fullerene-polymer complexes in the form of well-defined nanoparticles
Data Source
Figure 1~1(6)
AI summary
Provided herein are fullerene compositions, and methods of preparing thereof. More particularly, the fullerene compositions comprise a fullerene-polymer complex comprising a fullerene and a non- conjugated hydrophilic or amphiphilic polymer, wherein the non- conjugated polymer is substituted with a substituent comprising a functional group capable of forming intermolecular interactions with the fullerene via pi-stacking.