Fullerenes

Abstract

This review highlights the year 2005 in fullerene chemistry and includes the elegant multi-step organic synthesis of H₂@C₆₀ from an opened cage aza-thia fullerene derivative. Carbon nanotube research has continued to advance rapidly. Highlights include the impressive use of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) as delivery agents for short interfering RNA (siRNA) which resulted in gene silencing in mammalian cells. Similarly, effective, specific delivery of boron to, and retention in, tumour cells using substituted carborane-appended SWNT has been achieved which highlights the potential for the future development of new carbon nanotube-based targeted anti-cancer therapies.