Biodistribution of fullerene derivative C-60(OH)(x)(O)(y)

The biological behavior of fullerene derivatives shows their considerable p otential application in medicine field. To understand the biodistribution o f C-60 derivatives as drugs or drug carriers, a simple water-soluble deriva tive C-60(OH)(x)(O)(y) was labeled with Te-99m. A gamma -counter and a sing le photo emission computed tomography (SPECT) were used to assess the biodi stribution and metabolism of the labeled compound in mice and rabbits, resp ectively. The results showed that the compound could be absorbed rapidly by tissues, especially by coronal bone, breastbone, backbone, extremity honey comb, liver and spleen. The clearance was slow from all tissues except for brain. The compound might be excreted through urine and enteron. The biodis tribution shows some difference from that of Yamago et al. In this note, we discuss the possible reason leading to the difference. Further study is ne eded to rind out to what extent the C60 itself determines the biodistributi on of derivatives.