Fullerenol [60] Nano-cages for Protection of Crops Against Oxidative Stress: A Critical Review

Fullerenols are carbon nanoparticles that have been declared as free radical sponges. There is a need to take a prudent path toward its applications in various biological systems. For plants, polyhydroxy fullerenes can be beneficial nanozymes with the ability to scavenge all forms of reactive oxygen species produced within sub-cellular compartments. However, limited information is available regarding the role of these synthetic nano-antioxidants within plant biosystems. The unique chemistry of fullerenes makes them behave as nanozymes that can neutralize all reactive oxygen and nitrogen forms. This property can be utilized for oxidative stress tolerance among plants under stressful environments. Therefore, the knowledge of plant–fullerenol interactions is crucial. The present review describes molecular mechanisms regarding its effects at sub-cellular, cellular, and tissue levels of organization. In addition, the effects of various fullerenol derivatives on different plant species are also provided at length in this review to give insights regarding fullerenol-induced regulation of plant growth and crop protection.