Water Solubilization of Fullerene Derivatives by β‐(1,3‐1,6)‐d‐Glucan and Their Photodynamic Activities toward Macrophages

Anionic and neutral fullerene derivatives were dissolved in water by using β‐(1,3‐1,6)‐d ‐glucan (β‐1,3‐glucan) as a solubilizing agent. In the water‐solubilized complexes, the concentrations of fullerene derivatives were ≈0.30 mm and the average particle sizes were ≈90 nm. The β‐1,3‐glucan‐complexed fullerene derivative with a carboxylic acid was found to have higher photodynamic activity toward macrophages under visible‐light irradiation (λ >610 nm) than other β‐1,3‐glucan‐complexed fullerene derivatives. This result suggests that carboxylic acid moieties in the complex enhance the binding affinity with β‐1,3‐glucan receptors on the surface of macrophages when the β‐1,3‐glucan is recognized. In contrast, all β‐1,3‐glucan‐complexed fullerene derivatives showed no photodynamic activity toward HeLa cells under the same conditions.