Aqueous fullerene aggregates (nC60) generate minimal reactive oxygen species and are of low toxicity in fish - a revision of previous reports

Sep 10, 2026

This review clarifies inconsistencies in prior studies on whether aqueous fullerene aggregates (nC60) produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cause toxicity in fish. It traces how evolving evaluation methods and limitations in early experiments led to erroneous ROS and toxicity claims and persistent environmental misconceptions about C60. Evidence from 2007–2011 indicates aqueous nC60 has minimal ROS potential and does not induce oxidative stress in fish, with guidance to avoid compromised artifact-driven citations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Potential for C60 to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in water

ROS generation by aqueous nC60

[Available online at www.sciencedirect.com](Available online at www.sciencedirect.com) Aqueous fullerene aggregates (nC60) generate minimal reactive oxygen species and are of low toxicity in ﬁsh: a revision of previous reports Theodore B Henry 1 ,2 ,3 , Elijah J Petersen4 and Robert N Compton5 ,6 This review aims to clarify inconsistencies in previous reports regarding the potential for aqueous aggregates of fullerenes (nC60) to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cause toxicity in ﬁsh. Methods for evaluation of ROS production and toxicity of aqueousnC60 have evolved overtime and limitations in initial studies have led to unintentional erroneous reports of nC60 ROS generation and toxicity. Some of these reports continue to lead to misconceptions of the environmental effects of C60. Critical review of the evidence (2007–2011) indicates that aqueous nC60 have minimal potential to produce ROS and that oxidative stress inﬁsh isnot induced by environmentally relevant exposure to nC60. Future studies should acknowledge that current evidence indicates low toxicity of nC60 and refrain from citing articles that attribute toxicity in ﬁsh to nC60 based on methods shown to be compromised by experimental artifacts. Despite low toxicity of nC60 in ﬁsh, an emerging environmental issue is that nC60 can affect environmental fate, transport, and bioavailability of co-contaminants in aquatic environments in a similar manner to that observed for other anthropogenic particulates (e.g., microplastics) . Addresses 1 School of Biomedical and Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom 2 Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States 3 Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States 4 Biochemical Sciences Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, United States 5 Department of Physics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States 6 Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States Corresponding author: Henry, Theodore B ([ted.henry@plymouth.ac.uk](ted.henry@plymouth.ac.uk)) Current Opinion in Biotechnology 2011, 22:533–537 This review comes from a themed issue on Nanobiotechnology Edited by Florian Hollfelder and Gary Sayler Available online 28th June 2011 0958-1669/$ – see front matter \# 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. DOI 10.1016/j.copbio.2011.05.511 Introduction Advancements in nanoscience have enabled arrangements ofatoms into novel conﬁgurationsand development ofnew materials with unique properties that offer considerable potential beneﬁts to society. Nanoparticles (NPs; particles with at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nm) and nanomaterials (NMs; materials that contain NPs) [1] are increasingly being incorporated into products, and lifecycle models of NMs predict that many NPs will ultimately be released into the environment [2]. To address concerns of negative environmental effects of NPs, emerging disciplines of nanotoxicology [3] and nanoecotoxicology [4]are evolving rapidly; however, lack of established methods for evaluating toxicity of NPs is a major concern [5]. Some initial experiments have led to erroneous reports that continue to contribute to a misunderstanding of NP toxicity and could impede potential beneﬁts of nanotechnology by creating negative public perceptions [6]. One NP that has perhaps generated the most controversy regarding its toxicity is the C60 fullerene. C60 is a spherical cage-like molecule (􀀂 1 nm in diameter) composed of 60 carbon atoms arranged as a highly stable truncated icosahedron [7]. The ability of C60 to both generate and quench reactive oxygen species (ROS) has emerged as a particularly important property for interaction with biological systems [8], and numerous studies have investigated beneﬁcial and toxicological effects of C60 [9]. Am

FAQs

What question does this review address about nC60 in fish?

It evaluates whether aqueous fullerene aggregates (nC60) generate reactive oxygen species and lead to toxicity in fish, clarifying conflicting prior reports.

Why were earlier ROS and toxicity findings considered inconsistent?

The review attributes inconsistencies to evolving assessment methods and limitations in early studies that produced unintentional erroneous conclusions, reinforced by experimental artifacts.

What do the critical 2007–2011 findings conclude about aqueous nC60?

Aqueous nC60 has minimal potential to produce ROS and oxidative stress in fish is not induced by environmentally relevant exposure.

Sep 10, 2026

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