Amphiphilic gamma-cyclodextrin-fullerene complexes with photodynamic activity

Amphiphilic gamma-cyclodextrin-fullerene 2 : 1 complexes (CLFCH complexes) were prepared by high-speed vibration milling of lipophilic tail-grafted gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma-CD), hydrophilic tail-grafted gamma-CD and fullerene C-60. The transamidation of gamma-CD-fullerene complexes having two amino groups with lipophilic and hydrophilic activated esters also afforded amphiphilic CLFCH complexes. Self-assemblies consisting of amphiphilic CLFCH complexes efficiently generated singlet oxygen under photoirradiation. Under visible light irradiation conditions, CLFCH complexes bearing a vitamin E moiety as a lipophilic tail showed high photodynamic activity toward cancer cells.