Buckminsterfullerene has a lot of real world applications, and the first area of discussion is in medicine. Buckyballs are used in medicine as drug delivery systems into the body, pharmaceuticals, antioxidants, optical devices and even targeted cancer therapies (Azonano, 2006). The antioxidant properties of buckyballs might even be able to fight the deterioration of motor function due to multiple sclerosis!
The fact that they can be used as drug delivery systems into the body also leads into the next category, how buckyballs are used in science. The ways that the buckyballs can be used to deliver drugs into the body also act as two big ways it's used in science, in lubricants and as catalysts. Buckyballs are catalysts because of their high reactivity. Other ways it is used in science is as superconductors, chemical sensors and polymer additives (Azonano, 2006). Buckyballs may even -and are currently being tested - be able to reduce the growth of bacteria in pipes and membranes in water systems.
Then the lastly, how are buckyballs being used in industry? Well, the biggest thing with every industry right now is - aside from making the most money - 'how can we be green?' And what better way of going green is there than the fuel cell powered cars? Plus buckminsterfullerene can help with that. Buckyballs have such a large hollow structure that they can actually store hydrogen! And this hydrogen storage can be used as a fuel tank for fuel cell powered cars (Understanding Nano, 2007).
Overall, inventors have definitely used specific characteristics such as its structure, high reactivity, antioxidant properties and ability to have a modified shape to benefit society. The modified shape ability is really beneficial to society because researchers are currently attempting to modify buckyballs to fit the section of the HIV molecule that binds to proteins, possibly inhibiting the spread of the virus (Understanding Nano, 2007)!