Squalane-Dissolved Fullerene-C60 Reduces Inflammation and Fat Cell Formation in Obesity-Related Research

A research study published in Biomaterials in 2010 by Xiao et al. investigates the effects of squalane-dissolved fullerene-C60 (Sql-fullerene), a carbon-based nanoparticle, on inflammation and fat cell development in lab models mimicking obesity-related conditions. The study shows that Sql-fullerene can reduce harmful processes linked to obesity, such as oxidative stress and immune cell activation, offering potential for treating related disorders.

In consumer-friendly terms, obesity can lead to health issues like metabolic syndrome, where fat tissue becomes inflamed, partly due to immune cells (macrophages) interacting with fat cells (adipocytes). This inflammation is fueled by harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause oxidative stress. The researchers used two lab systems to study this: a co-culture of OP9 (mouse pre-fat cells) and U937 (immune cells), and a 3D model called adipose-tissue equivalent (ATE), which mimics inflamed fat tissue.

In the experiments, OP9 cells were prompted to turn into fat cells using a high-insulin medium, leading to fat droplet buildup and ROS production. Sql-fullerene significantly reduced both. In the OP9-U937 co-culture, U937 cells became macrophage-like and, together with OP9 fat cells, produced even more ROS, mimicking chronic inflammation in obesity. Sql-fullerene lowered this inflammation by calming macrophage activation and slowing fat cell formation. In the ATE model, which included a 3D setup with OP9 cells in a gel and U937 cells below, Sql-fullerene reduced macrophage movement into the “fat tissue” and fat accumulation after five days.

The findings suggest that Sql-fullerene could help manage obesity-related conditions by reducing inflammation and fat cell growth, making it a promising candidate for future treatments of metabolic syndrome or other obesity-linked disorders.

Link to research study