Biochemical and hematologic effects of polyvinylpyrrolidone-wrapped fullerene C₆₀ after oral administration

The fullerene C₆₀ is used in consumer products such as cosmetics owing to its antioxidative effects and is being developed for nanomedical applications. However, knowledge regarding the safety of fullerene C₆₀, especially after oral administration, is sparse. Here, we examined the safety of fullerene C₆₀ in mice after 7 d of exposure to orally administered polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-wrapped fullerene C₆₀ (PVP-fullerene C₆₀). Mice treated with PVP-fullerene C₆₀ showed few changes in the plasma levels of various markers of kidney and liver injury and experienced no significant hematologic effects. Furthermore, the histology of the colon of PVP-fullerene C₆₀ -treated mice was indistinguishable from that of control mice. These results suggest that PVP-fullerene C₆₀ lacks toxicity after high-dose oral administration and indicate that PVP-fullerene C₆₀ can be considered safe for oral medication. These data provide basic information that likely will facilitate the production of safe and effective forms of fullerene C₆₀.