Systems and Methods Based on Radiation Induced Heating or Ignition of Functionalized Fullerenes

Abstract

A method of irradiating a target region containing at least one fullerene comprising molecule promotes the heating or combustion of the target region. The heating method can be employed in a variety of applications including: selective targeting and destruction of cancer cells, detonation of explosives, ignition of a combustible mixture, photolithographic processes, and writing of optical storage media.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of localized heating within an article, comprising the steps of:
 disposing a plurality of functionalized fullerenes selected from endohedral fullerenes, polyhydroxyl fullerenes, carboxy fullerenes, N-ethyl-polyamino-C60, [6,6] phenyl C60 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), fullerene hydride, N-methyl fulleropyrrolidine, or any combination thereof disposed in or on at least one target region; and   irradiating said functionalized fullerenes with electromagnetic radiation to convert said radiation to thermal energy wherein said thermal energy dissipates as a photoacoustic wave emanating from said functionalized fullerene comprising molecule; and   inducing a change in said target region by said photoacoustic wave.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said target region is within a patient, said target region includes cancer cells, wherein said thermal energy at said target region causes said cancer cells to undergo apoptosis, necrosis, bursting or other transformation that inhibits growth of said cancer cells. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said functionalized fullerene is further functionalized with at least one targeting agent selected from aptamer, antibody, functionalized fluorescent antibody, and, optionally, further functionalized with dye/quantum dot doped particle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said functionalized fullerene conjugates with a bioparticle in said target region, wherein said irradiating comprises a first irradiating with a low intensity of said electromagnetic radiation to promote fluorescence to locate said target regions and a second irradiation of said target region with sufficient intensity to inactivate said bioparticle upon absorption of said thermal energy. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said targeting agent associates said fullerene comprising molecule with said cancer cells. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said target region is within a patient, wherein said inducing a change in said target region is splitting or welding tissue is said target region.