Host–Guest Encapsulation of Fullerenes by Lys-2Gly Dendrimers: Physicochemical Characterization and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Evaluations
7 affiliations
- 1St. Petersburg State University , 7/9 Universitetskaya nab. , ,
- 2Institute of Macromolecular Compounds , , Bolshoi Prospect 31, V.O. , ,
- 3National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute” , Akademika Kurchatova Pl. 1 , ,
- 4Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute Named by B.P. Konstantinov of NRC “Kurchatov Institute” , 1, mkr. Orlova Roshcha , , ,
- 5Joint Institute for Nuclear Research , Joliot-Curie St. 6 , ,
- 6Tver State University , Sadoviy per., 35 , ,
- 7St. Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics (ITMO University) , Kronverkskiy pr. 49 , ,
Abstract
We investigate the physicochemical properties of complexes formed between the peptide Lys-2Gly dendrimer and C60 and C70 fullerenes. Combining small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), NMR, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we reveal a pronounced structural compaction upon encapsulation. Both the radius of gyration and the hydrodynamic radius of the dendrimer-fullerene complexes are significantly reduced compared to the free dendrimer. DLS measurements corroborate these results, indicating that the complexes remain monodisperse and free of aggregates. To assess the biocompatibility of these nanocarriers, we evaluated their cytotoxicity in vitro across cancer (HeLa G63, HT-1080) and normal (dermal fibroblasts) human cell lines. The complexes exhibit low cytotoxicity at physiologically relevant concentrations. Cytotoxicity remains low but becomes measurable in a concentration-, time-, and cell-line-dependent manner at supraphysiological doses (≥100 μg/mL). Notably, both compounds demonstrated enhanced cytotoxicity toward the HT-1080 cancer cell line at high concentrations, while showing moderate toxicity in normal cells. These findings highlight the Lys-2Gly dendrimer as a robust, biocompatible nanoplatform, indicating its potential for the encapsulation and delivery of hydrophobic therapeutics and contrast agents.
Related
- CoFe₂O₄ Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Physicochemical Characterization, and Reactive Oxygen Species-mediated Selective Cytotoxicity for Radiotherapy Applications
- Essential Oils of Ocimum basilicum L. and Ocimum americanum L. from Djibouti: Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxicity Evaluations
- Synthesis, Physicochemical Characteristics, Self‐Assembly and Encapsulation Ability of per‐Ethylene‐Glycol‐Functionalized Resorcin[4]Arenes and Their Molecular Capsules: On the Road to Liquid Capsules
- Physicochemical properties, selective cytotoxicity, and hemocompatibility of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized using Schizophyllum commune extract
- Ni(II) Complexes of 2-Imine-8-Hydroxyquinolines: Characterization, Albumin Binding and Cytotoxicity
BibTeX
@article{markelov2026hostguest,
title = {{Host–Guest Encapsulation of Fullerenes by Lys-2Gly Dendrimers: Physicochemical Characterization and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Evaluations}},
author = {Denis A. Markelov and Nadezhda N. Sheveleva and Mariya E. Mikhailova and Irina I. Tarasenko and Petr V. Konarev and Vladimir V. Volkov and Georgy S. Peters and Irina S. Ryabokon and Victor P. Sedov and Marina V. Suyasova and Olga I. Bolshakova and Elizaveta E. Slepneva and Elena Yu. Varfolomeeva and Svetlana V. Sarantseva and Valeriy V. Bezrodnyi and Oleg V. Shavykin and Igor M. Neelov},
journal = {ACS Omega},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1021/acsomega.6c09146},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c09146/5465262/Host-Guest-Encapsulation-of-Fullerenes-by-Lys-2Gly},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Host–Guest Encapsulation of Fullerenes by Lys-2Gly Dendrimers: Physicochemical Characterization and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Evaluations
AU - Denis A. Markelov
AU - Nadezhda N. Sheveleva
AU - Mariya E. Mikhailova
AU - Irina I. Tarasenko
AU - Petr V. Konarev
AU - Vladimir V. Volkov
AU - Georgy S. Peters
AU - Irina S. Ryabokon
AU - Victor P. Sedov
AU - Marina V. Suyasova
AU - Olga I. Bolshakova
AU - Elizaveta E. Slepneva
AU - Elena Yu. Varfolomeeva
AU - Svetlana V. Sarantseva
AU - Valeriy V. Bezrodnyi
AU - Oleg V. Shavykin
AU - Igor M. Neelov
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/05
JO - ACS Omega
DO - 10.1021/acsomega.6c09146
UR - https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c09146/5465262/Host-Guest-Encapsulation-of-Fullerenes-by-Lys-2Gly
AB - We investigate the physicochemical properties of complexes formed between the peptide Lys-2Gly dendrimer and C60 and C70 fullerenes. Combining small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), NMR, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we reveal a pronounced structural compaction upon encapsulation. Both the radius of gyration and the hydrodynamic radius of the dendrimer-fullerene complexes are significantly reduced compared to the free dendrimer. DLS measurements corroborate these results, indicating that the complexes remain monodisperse and free of aggregates. To assess the biocompatibility of these nanocarriers, we evaluated their cytotoxicity in vitro across cancer (HeLa G63, HT-1080) and normal (dermal fibroblasts) human cell lines. The complexes exhibit low cytotoxicity at physiologically relevant concentrations. Cytotoxicity remains low but becomes measurable in a concentration-, time-, and cell-line-dependent manner at supraphysiological doses (≥100 μg/mL). Notably, both compounds demonstrated enhanced cytotoxicity toward the HT-1080 cancer cell line at high concentrations, while showing moderate toxicity in normal cells. These findings highlight the Lys-2Gly dendrimer as a robust, biocompatible nanoplatform, indicating its potential for the encapsulation and delivery of hydrophobic therapeutics and contrast agents.
SN - 2470-1343
ER -