Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Spring 2009
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Chemistry
Committee Chair
Dr. Carin Thomas, Department of Chemistry
Second Committee Member
Dr. JoAnn Peters, Department of Chemistry
Third Committee Member
Dr. Audrey D. Huerta, Director Science Honors Research Program
Abstract
Since the discovery of Buckminster Fullerenes (C60), this carbon nanoparticle has been the subject of intense study. C60 has been investigated in such applications as photodynamic therapy of cancer, photovoltaic cells, semiconductors, and enzyme inhibition. Despite two decades of research, the biological effects of C60 remain a mystery. The intention of this study was to examine the effects of Buckminster Fullerenes on mitochondrial function in an effort to determine the concentration of C60 as well as the time frame of exposure that causes maximum dysfunction. Thus, bovine heart mitochondria were exposed to different doses of C60 (2 -35 ppm). To determine if C60 dosage results in varying effects on mitochondrial function, two mitochondrial enzymes were measured. Hydrogen peroxide production and lipid peroxidation were also measured as indicators of oxidative stress and membrane oxidation. This study determined that at low concentration (2 ppm), C60 caused enhanced electron transport chain function and caused little oxidative stress, while at higher concentrations (10-35 ppm) C50 caused no electron transport chain inhibition, and neither oxidative stress nor lipid peroxidation. These results indicate that at low concentrations C60 effects mitochondria differently than at high concentrations, and that C60 has no deleterious effects over a thirty minute time frame.
Recommended Citation
Rosario, Sara, "The Effects of Buckminster Fullerenes on Mitochondrial Function" (2009). Undergraduate Honors Theses. 98.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/undergrad_hontheses/98
Comments
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