Fullerene derivatives in bilayer membranes: an overview

Since lipophilic fullerene derivatives, so-called lipofullerenes, are found to be unprecedentedly soluble in lipid membrane bilayers, a new concept to modify the physical and mechanical properties as well as the functionalization of membranes by aggregation with fullerenes is accessible. Several model compounds (1a/b, 2a/b/c/d, 3) are realized and their behaviour in membrane bilayers was extensively investigated [M. Hetzer, S. Bayerl, X. Camps, O. Vostrowsky, A. Hirsch, T.M. Bayerl, Adv Mater 9 (1997) 913]. We present a brief overview of recent results to introduce this outstanding and promising approach to entirely new supramolecular structures. Alteration of the lipofullerene, for example by polymerizable butadiyn units (2d, 4c-7c) as well as hydrophilic moieties combined with biofunctional end groups as (+)-biotin (3-7) extends the possibilities to build tailor-made nanostructures with well-defined biocompatible functions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.