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. 2021 Mar;20(3):327-341.
doi: 10.1007/s43630-021-00021-1. Epub 2021 Mar 4.

A novel tricationic fullerene C60 as broad-spectrum antimicrobial photosensitizer: mechanisms of action and potentiation with potassium iodide

Maximiliano L Agazzi  1 , Javier E Durantini  2 , Ezequiel D Quiroga  1 , M Gabriela Alvarez  1 , Edgardo N Durantini  3
Affiliations

A novel tricationic fullerene C60 as broad-spectrum antimicrobial photosensitizer: mechanisms of action and potentiation with potassium iodide

Maximiliano L Agazzi et al. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

A novel amphiphilic photosensitizing agent based on a tricationic fullerene C60 (DMC603+) was efficiently synthesized from its non-charged analogue MMC60. These fullerenes presented strong UV absorptions, with a broad range of less intense absorption up to 710 nm. Both compounds showed low fluorescence emission and were able to photosensitize the production of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, photodecomposition of L-tryptophan sensitized by both fullerenes indicated an involvement of type II pathway. DMC603+ was an effective agent to produce the photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Mechanistic insight indicated that the photodynamic action sensitized by DMC603+ was mainly mediated by both photoprocesses in bacteria, while a greater preponderance of the type II pathway was found in C. albicans. In presence of potassium iodide, a potentiation of PDI was observed due to the formation of reactive iodine species. Therefore, the amphiphilic DMC603+ can be used as an effective potential broad-spectrum antimicrobial photosensitizer.

Keywords: Fulleropyrrolidine; Iodide; Microorganisms; Photodynamic inactivation; Photosensitizer.

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