Background: Pristine C₆₀ fullerenes and its derivatives are being explored for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic applications. For further usage of these nanoparticles, the systematic toxicological investigations are required. Blood compatibility should be investigated for C₆₀ fullerenes due to the potential blood contact. Currently, available data is not systematic and has not provided insights into the possible side effects of C₆₀ fullerenes on circulatory components, including constituents of the hemostatic cascade.

Aims: In this study water-soluble pristine C₆₀ fullerenes were tested in vitro to assess their hemocompatibility. Hemocompatibility has been evaluated looking at the impact of C₆₀ fullerenes on erythrocytes integrity, platelet aggregation, and some coagulation factors.

Methods: ADP-induced aggregation was measured by a photo-optical aggregometer. The plasma coagulation potential was evaluated in clotting tests by a coagulation analyzer. The activities of exogenous thrombin and factor Xa were determined by means of the chromogenic substrates (S-2238/S-2222). Plasmin and protein C activators were used to generate the appropriate endogenous active enzymes followed the assessment of their activity by using the chromogenic substrates (S-2251/S-2366). The hemolytic activity was detected spectrophotometrically by the measurement of hemoglobin released from erythrocytes in response to different fullerene concentrations.

Results: Our results have revealed that C₆₀ fullerenes can not provoke hemolysis at studied concentrations and did not show any effect on coagulation process. C₆₀ fullerenes in concentration-dependent manner increased ADP-dependent platelet aggregation and significantly changed the kinetic parameters of this process. C₆₀ fullerenes inhibited the amidolytic activity of thrombin but did not affect the activities of other studied coagulation factors.

Conclusions: The prothrombotic property of C₆₀ fullerenes could be the potential risk factor lead to enhancement of vascular thrombosis. On the other hand, the ability of fullerenes inhibit thrombin activity is important for the pharmacological use of these carbon nanoparticles as anticoagulant agents.

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ISTH Congress Abstracts - https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/in-vitro-studies-of-the-blood-compatibility-of-water-soluble-pristine-c60-fullerenes/