BUCKMINSTERFULLERENE AND PHOTODYNAMIC INACTIVATION OF VIRUSES

The development of new virus inactivation procedures has become an are a of growing interest mainly due to increased demands concerning the s afety of biological products. Photochemical processes represent the mo st promising methods for the future to inactivate viruses. In these me thods, dyes are the most widely used photosensitising reagents. The cu rrent article covers a new interesting alternative, namely the use of buckminsterfullerene (C-60). The unique properties of this molecule ma ke it a valid candidate for future applications in the inactivation of viruses in biological fluids. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.