Carbon nanotube (CNT) toxicity-related issues provoke many debates. This review sheds light on the current knowledge about CNT in vitro toxicity and offers possible directions for subsequent studies based on the demonstrated here statistical data.

The smart healthcare approach requires continuous monitoring of the individual’s specific health parameters to enable disease diagnostics and treatment at early stages. From that viewpoint, wearable electronics, especially electronic skin...

Graphical abstract A series of water-soluble fullerene derivatives are synthesized to produce antitumor effects on three types of lung cancer cells. The fullerene compounds with sulfur-containing aromatic rings showed the most effective inhibition on cell proliferation among all fullerene compounds. The quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models illustrate that thiophene moiety in the fullerene cage has positive correlation with the antitumor effect of the fullerene derivatives.

Nanoplatforms applied for the loading of anticancer drugs is a cutting-edge approach for drug delivery to tumors and reduction of toxic effects on healthy cells. In this study, we describe the synthesis and compare the sorption properties of four types of potential doxorubicin-carriers, in which iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) are functionalized with cationic (polyethylenimine, PEI), anionic (polystyrenesulfonate, PSS), and nonionic (dextran) polymers, as well as with porous carbon. The IONs are thoroughly characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, high resolution TEM (HRTEM), SEM, magnetic susceptibility, and the zeta-potential measurements in the pH range of 3–10. The degree of doxorubicin loading at pH 7.4, as well as the degree of desorption at pH 5.0, distinctive to cancerous tumor environment, are measured. Particles modified with PEI were shown to exhibit the highest loading capacity, while the greatest release at pH 5 (up to 30%) occurs from the surface of magnetite decorated with PSS. Such a slow release of the drug would imply a prolonged tumor-inhibiting action on the affected tissue or organ. Assessment of the toxicity (using Neuro2A cell line) for PEI- and PSS-modified IONs showed no negative effect. In conclusion, the preliminary evaluation of the effects of IONs coated with PSS and PEI on the rate of blood clotting was carried out. The results obtained can be taken into account when developing new drug delivery platforms.