Photodynamic Therapy Mediated by Fullerenes and Their Derivatives

The fullerene molecule with its unique structure of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a soccer ball structure is a molecule of great potential for a variety of applications and has drawn the attention of many physicists, chemists and engineers. Recently, these nanostructures have also been studied for their biological activities with a view towards using them for biomedical applications. One of the possible therapies for which fullerenes may have a real medical application is the light based therapy called photodynamic therapy (PDT), which is a non-surgical, minimally invasive approach that has been used in the treatment of solid tumors and many non-malignant diseases.