Electron Scavenging Not Free Radical Scavenging by Fullerene Materials Protects Against Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress in Complex Organisms.

Fullerene materials are often reported to be excellent antioxidants in cells. Usually, direct free radical scavenging mechanisms, as seen in polymer and food industry research, is the proposed antioxidant mechanism. However, free radical scavenging by antioxidants in vivo is kinetically unlikely and conflicts with fullerene material’s molecular properties. Pristine fullerene materials, and many of their derivatives, are pro‐oxidant and form adducts, which are both potentially toxic mechanisms in vivo. Although they are electrophilic, and potentially oxidative molecules with an affinity for electrons, they appear to function like other non‐radical electrophilic antioxidants and stimulate enzymatic oxidative stress management and protection. We approach fullerene material’s antioxidant role from the perspective that they do not act as direct free radical scavengers. Other mechanisms have been previously proposed that are more consistent with fullerene properties, and antioxidant benefits in vivo . Here we discuss fullerene materials as electron scavenging antioxidants rather than free radical scavengers. We propose that fullerene materials scavenge excess electrons in the ETC preventing the formation of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals in the mitochondria. The scavenging of electrons would help in preventing damage to mitochondrial structures and DNA, maintaining optimum NAD + /NADH ratios, as well as in maintaining an oxidized OX/PHOS enzyme system in mitochondrial conditions resulting from excess caloric intake in the absence of cellular energy requirements and progressive mitochondrial dysfunction related to oxidative stress. Further research is needed to evaluate the utilization of fullerene materials for use in metabolic syndromes and neurodegenerative conditions complicated by progressive mitochondrial damage. Support or Funding Information Supported by Institutional Resources of the University of Science Arts and Technology, Montserrat, BWI, The University of Health and Humanities, BVI and the Einstein Medical Institute, Florida USA.