We report diamond nanowires grown in an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition process. These diamond nanowires are straight, thin and long, and uniform in diameter (60-90 nm) over tens of micrometers. Spectroscopic analysis, electron diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy provided confirmation that these nanowires are diamond with high crystallinity and high structural uniformity. They further revealed that these diamond nanowires are encased within multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

A major challenge to nanomaterial-based medicine is the ability to release drugs on-command. Here, we describe an innovative drug delivery system based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs), in which compounds can be released inside cells from within the nanotube “on-command” by inductive heating with an external alternating current or pulsed magnetic field. Without inductive heating the drug remains safely inside the CNTs, showing no toxicity in cell viability tests. Similar to the “Trojan-Horse” in function, we demonstrate the delivery of a combination of chemotherapeutic agents with low aqueous solubility, paclitaxel (Taxol), and C6-ceramide, to multidrug resistant pancreatic cancer cells. Nanotube encapsulation permitted the drugs to be used at a 100-fold lower concentration compared to exogenous treatment yet achieve a comparable ∼70% cancer kill rate.

Metal sulfides have great potential for various applications. Numerous sulfur source molecules have been employed for metal sulfide synthesis, but there are still some problems, including hazardous byproducts and harsh experimental conditions. Discovering an environmentally friendly new sulfur source molecule is critical for metal sulfide synthesis. In this study, we introduce a new sulfur source molecule for metal sulfide synthesis, especially bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3). Using a new sulfur source molecule, 2-mercaptoethanol, in bismuth sulfide synthesis, high-aspect ratio and single-crystalline nanowires of bismuth sulfide have been synthesized in a low-temperature, solvothermal reaction process without a template. With this approach, the morphology of bismuth sulfide can also be successfully tuned with the use of a biomolecule, glutathione, into tapered, cross- and T-shaped nanowires, as well as other interesting structures. We believe this new approach can be extended to the synthesis of other metal sulfide nanostructures and open new opportunities for device applications.