Investigation of potential cytotoxicity of a water-soluble, red-fluorescent [70]fullerene nanomaterial in Drosophila melanogaster

Fullerenes (C₆₀, C₇₀) as carbon nanomaterials can enter the environment through natural processes and anthropogenic activities, while synthetic fullerenes are commonly used in medicine in targeted therapies in association with antibodies, or anticancer and antimicrobial drugs. As the nanoparticles, they can pass through cell membranes and organelles and accumulate in the entire cytoplasm. The red-fluorescent, water-soluble [70]fullerene derivative C₇₀-OMe-ser, which produces reactive oxygen species upon illumination with an appropriate wavelength, passed into the cytoplasm of the middle region in the Drosophila melanogaster digestive system. To determine whether [70]fullerene nanomaterials that produce fluorescence after entering the cell cytoplasm will hurt its homeostasis, it is necessary to investigate the activation of degenerative and possibly regenerative processes. In vivo, studies on the model species D. melanogaster may help to elucidate whether the water-soluble [70]fullerene derivative that produces fluorescence can still be considered among the most promising nanomaterials. The experiment involved feeding insects ad libitum with yeast paste supplemented with 40 µg of fullerenes/mL for 1 week and 1 month. Thus, adult females and males of D. melanogaster were divided into control (CWM, CWF, CMM, and CMF) and experimental groups (FWM, FWF, FMM, and FMF). The quantitative and qualitative analysis enabled the presentation of the effects of the water-soluble [70]fullerene derivatives on cell proliferation and degeneration. Our study presented that [70]fullerene derivative showed a cytoprotective effect and activated cell proliferation. Therefore, we could conclude that analyzed carbon nanomaterials seemed to be safe for the cells into which they have penetrated.