Metallofullerene
In chemistry, a metallofullerene is a molecule composed of a metal atom trapped inside a fullerene cage.
Simple metallofullerenes consist of a fullerene cage, typically {{chem|C|80}}, with one or two metal atoms trapped inside. Recently, research has produced metallofullerenes that enclose small clusters of atoms, such as {{chem|Sc|3|N@C|80}}, {{chem|Y|3|N@C|80}}, and {{chem|Sc|3|C|2|@C|80}}. The '@' symbol in the formula indicates that the atom(s) are encapsulated inside the cage, rather than being chemically bonded to it.
Fullerenes in a variety of sizes have been found to encapsulate metal atoms in this way.
Medical applications
One particular metallofullerene with gadolinium at its core is up to 40 times better as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging scans for diagnostic imaging.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} Metallofullerenes may also provide ways to carry therapeutic radioactive ions to cancerous tissue.{{cite web|url=http://www.kurzweilai.net/support-for-top-down-theory-of-how-buckyballs-form |title=Support for top-down theory of how 'buckyballs' form |publisher=KurzweilAI |access-date=2013-09-28}}{{Cite journal | last1 = Zhang | first1 = J. | last2 = Bowles | first2 = F. L. | last3 = Bearden | first3 = D. W. | last4 = Ray | first4 = W. K. | last5 = Fuhrer | first5 = T. | last6 = Ye | first6 = Y. | last7 = Dixon | first7 = C. | last8 = Harich | first8 = K. | last9 = Helm | first9 = R. F. | last10 = Olmstead | first10 = M. M. | last11 = Balch | first11 = A. L. | last12 = Dorn | first12 = H. C. | doi = 10.1038/nchem.1748 | title = A missing link in the transformation from asymmetric to symmetric metallofullerene cages implies a top-down fullerene formation mechanism | journal = Nature Chemistry | volume = 5 | issue = 10 | pages = 880–885 | year = 2013 | pmid = 24056346| bibcode = 2013NatCh...5..880Z }}