What Is Carbon 60 (C60)? Your FAQs Answered - Healthline

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SubscribeWhat Is Carbon 60 (C60)? Your FAQs AnsweredMedically reviewed by Ami Patel PharmD, BCPS — Written by Carly Werner, RD — Updated on February 19, 2024
  • What is C60?
  • What's it made of?
  • Is it natural?
  • How to take
  • C60 in food
  • Where to buy
  • Takeaway

C60 is sometimes taken as a supplement or added to anti-aging products due to its antioxidant properties, though more studies in humans are needed to understand its benefits and safety.

Carbon 60 (C60) was an exciting find when it was discovered back in 1985. In fact, the scientists who found it were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996 for the discovery.

Now, years later, C60 is still generating interest in research and medical communities.

The official name of C60 is buckminsterfullerene. C60 compounds are also casually referred to as buckyballs because of their round shape — and because the real name is quite a mouthful!

We’ve partnered with C60 Power to explore frequently asked questions about C60.

Whether you know it as buckminsterfullerene, buckyballs, carbon 60, or C60, read on to get answers to some common questions about the compound.

What is C60?

C60 is a compound that’s being researched for a variety of medical, industrial, and scientific purposes. Because of its shape and stability, it’s been used as a tool to deliver drugs or genes in some animal and cell studies.

When scientists discovered C60, they found a carbon compound made up of 60 carbon molecules that looks like a hollow cage shaped like a soccer ball.

This shape gives it unique properties and allows it to hold materials inside. This is an area of interest for medical research. For example, according to a 2011 research review, C60’s hollow structure has been used in early research as a cage for HIV, making the virus unable to replicate itself.

There’s also interest in the antioxidant properties of C60. C60 readily grabs free radicals, which are associated with cell damage in the body.

Research examining other potential medical or scientific uses for C60 is ongoing. Most research so far has been done in cells or animals, with few studies including humans.

What is C60 made of?

C60 is made up of 60 carbon molecules, which is how it gets its name.

These carbon molecules form 12 pentagons (a shape with 5 equal sides) and 20 hexagons (a shape with 6 equal sides). This combination of pentagons and hexagons turns C60 into the shape of a soccer ball.

Carbon is an element that’s been widely studied. This is because it’s part of all life forms. Based on the way carbon molecules link together, substances made of carbon can look very different.

C60 is created in a lab by vaporizing carbon. Under specific conditions, this vaporized form of carbon becomes free to form new bonds into a soccer ball shape, creating C60.

Is C60 natural?

Carbon is an element that makes up part of all life forms. We are surrounded by — and made of — carbon.

Even though it’s made of carbon, though, C60 isn’t really a natural form of the element. It requires specific conditions to make it. Graphite is vaporized in a lab setting to create C60.

There are a few cases where C60 has been found outside of a lab. C60 is found in trace amounts in soot. It’s also been found in outer space.

However, for any useful purpose, it needs to be created in a lab.

How do you take C60?

C60 doesn’t dissolve in water. It’s hydrophobic, which means it stays separate from water.

When left in water, C60 molecules clump together. This causes C60 to lose some of the unique properties related to its shape.

Some people take C60 as a supplement. Because it can’t be dissolved in water, it’s typically put in an oil-based solution to take by mouth.

C60 Power’s organic C60 olive oil, for example, delivers 25.6 milligrams of active C60 per ounce.

C60 is also added to some beauty products, including anti-aging serums or creams.

Is C60 found in any foods?

C60 isn’t found naturally in any foods. It needs to be created in a lab using specialized equipment.

There may be some products with C60 added to them. These would be considered supplements rather than foods.

Where can you buy C60?

Unless you have connections in the scientific community, you won’t be able to get your hands on any C60 on its own.

Some beauty products and supplements are available with C60 added. You may be able to purchase them at specialty supplement or health stores.

You should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplements. Supplements don’t need approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before being marketed, and they may not be risk-free in some situations.

The takeaway

C60 is a unique compound that’s shaped like a soccer ball. It’s made of 60 carbon molecules and is more stable than other carbon forms.

C60 was discovered in a lab approximately 35 years ago. Since then, it’s been studied for its potential use in a variety of medical and scientific purposes, but most research hasn’t yet included humans.

C60 is sometimes taken as a supplement or added to anti-aging products due to its antioxidant properties, though more studies in humans are needed to understand its benefits and safety.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
  • Anilkumar P, et al. (2011). Fullerenes for applications in biology and medicine.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233716776_Fullerenes_for_Applications_in_Biology_and_Medicine
  • Bakry R, et al. (2007). Medicinal applications of fullerenes. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2676811/
  • Discovery of fullerenes. (2010).https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/fullerenes.html
  • Green H [SciShow]. (2015). Buckyball: Tiny carbon soccer balls [Video file].https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z8Q0aUKuUU
  • Howard JB, et al. (1991). Fullerenes C60 and C70 in flames.https://www.nature.com/articles/352139a0
  • Iohara D, et al. (2016). In vitro and in vivo evaluation of hydrophilic C60 (OH)10/2-hydroxypropyl-𝛽-cyclodextrin nanoparticles as an antioxidant.https://jpharmsci.org/article/S0022-3549(16)41407-3/fulltext
  • Markovic Z, et al. (2008). Biomedical potential of the reactive oxygen species generation and quenching by fullerenes (C60).https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0142961208003487
  • NASA. (2012). NASA’s Spitzer finds solid buckyballs in space [Press release].https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/feb/HQ_12-057_Spitzer_Buckyballs.html
  • Nielsen GD, et al. (2008). In vivo biology and toxicology of fullerenes and their derivatives.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18684229/
  • Nobel Prize organization. (1996). The discovery of carbon atoms bound in the form of a ball is rewarded.https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1996/press-release/
  • Sergeeva V, et al. (2019). Antioxidant properties of fullerene derivatives depend on their chemical structure: A study of two fullerene derivatives on HELFs.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6360044/
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2018). Tips for dietary supplement users.https://www.fda.gov/food/information-consumers-using-dietary-supplements/tips-dietary-supplement-users
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2019). Questions and answers on dietary supplements.https://www.fda.gov/food/information-consumers-using-dietary-supplements/questions-and-answers-dietary-supplements

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Medically reviewed by Ami Patel PharmD, BCPS — Written by Carly Werner, RD — Updated on February 19, 2024

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