Aqueous dispersion of polymer-stabilized ultrasmall C₆₀ fullerene nanoparticles

An aqueous dispersion of C₆₀ fullerene nanoparticles (up to 6 nm in size) has been obtained for the first time, with a C₆₀ mass fraction of 4% relative to the hydrophilic poly(1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole) added for the effective stabilization of the carbon nanoparticles. Nanoparticles of this size are formed as a result of donor–acceptor interactions between the triazole groups of the polymer and the C₆₀ molecules, which act as cross-linking agents connecting the polymer chains. The ultrasmall size of the fullerene nanoparticles is crucial not only for biocompatibility but also for maintaining their photophysical properties in biological media.