Fullerene derivatives in bilayer membranes: an overview Original Research Article

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.