Implications of the molecular toxicity and cytocompatibility by the nano-caged C in MCF-7 breast cancer cells: an in vitro study.

C60 fullerene possesses a unique cage-like architecture, remarkable stability, and significant biomedical potential. This study investigates its physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant properties, and anticancer activity. UV-vis spectroscopy revealed an absorption peak at ~ 175 nm, confirming the successful synthesis of C60 nanoparticles and buckyball formation. FTIR spectra displayed characteristic peaks at ~ 3747 cm⁻ (-OH), ~ 2356 cm⁻ (C = O), and ~ 1793 cm⁻ (C = C), indicating functional group interactions within the carbon framework. Raman analysis showed an ID/IG ratio of ~ 1.15, suggesting minimal structural defects and low dangling bond presence following bottom-up synthesis. FESEM imaging demonstrated particle agglomeration with sizes ranging from 20 to 400 nm and slight surface corrugation, likely due to heterogeneous chemical interactions during synthesis. XRD patterns exhibited prominent peaks at 23° (220), 25° (222), 30° (422), 35° (333), and ~ 49° (200), confirming the polycrystalline nature of C60 resulting from X-ray diffraction of its carbon lattice. Biological evaluation using MCF-7 breast cancer cells showed significant anticancer activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 8.82 μg/mL after 24 h incubation. MTT and confocal analyses indicated dose-dependent inhibition of cell viability accompanied by increased intracellular ROS generation, suggesting effective suppression of cancer cell proliferation. In vivo biocompatibility assessment using zebrafish embryos demonstrated approximately 95% hatchability and no observable developmental defects at 1.0 μg/mL, confirming low toxicity and favorable biocompatibility. Overall, the distinct structural and physicochemical properties of C60 contribute to its promising anticancer efficacy with minimal toxicity. These findings provide valuable insights into its biological interactions and support the development of safer, biocompatible nanomaterials for biomedical and environmental applications.