Advancement in carbon nanotubes: basics, biomedical applications and toxicity

Abstract

Objectives Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted much attention by researchers worldwide in recent years for their small dimensions and unique architecture, and for having immense potential in nanomedicine as biocompatible and supportive substrates, as a novel tool for the delivery of therapeutic molecules including peptides, RNA and DNA, and also as sensors, actuators and composites. Key findings CNTs have been employed in the development of molecular electronic, composite materials and others due to their unique atomic structure, high surface area-tovolume ratio and excellent electronic, mechanical and thermal properties. Recently they have been exploited as novel nanocarriers in drug delivery systems and biomedical applications. Their larger inner volume as compared with the dimensions of the tube and easy immobilization of their outer surface with biocompatible materials make CNTs a superior nanomaterial for drug delivery. Literature reveals that CNTs are versatile carriers for controlled and targeted drug delivery, especially for cancer cells, because of their cell membrane penetrability. Summary This review enlightens the biomedical application of CNTs with special emphasis on utilization in controlled and targeted drug delivery, as a diagnostics tool and other possible uses in therapeutic systems. The review also focuses on the toxicity aspects of CNTs, and revealed that genotoxic potential, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of different types of CNTs must be explored and overcome by formulating safe biomaterial for drug delivery. The review also describes the regulatory aspects and clinical and market status of CNTs.

Mesoporous carbon biomaterials

“…Moreover, carbon nanotubes and graphene show enhanced laser absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region and high photothermal-conversion efficiency and can act as photothermal agents for photothermal cancer therapy. Pre-clinical evaluations of biodistribution, excretion, histocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and other properties are very encouraging: sp 2 carbon-based biomaterials are nontoxic and biocompatible at adequate doses, showing high clinical-translation potential [20,22,23].…”

Synergistic and competitive adsorption of organic dyes on multiwalled carbon nanotubes

“…Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are new carbon materials and have found many applications in a wide areas such as adsorption, separation, catalysis, sensors, biomedicine and electronic devices [9][10][11][12][13][14]. Due to their large specific surface area, small pore size, hollow and layered structures, carbon nanotubes have been proven to possess a great potential as superior adsorbents for removing many kinds of organic and inorganic contaminants from aqueous solution [15].…”

Malign plevral mezotelyomada ilaç taşıyıcı nanosistemler

“…KNT'lerin fizikokimyasal özellikleri, içi boş tüpsü yapıları ve eksensel simetriye sahip oluşları araştır-macıların büyük ilgisini çekmektedir (49)(50)(51)(52)(53)(54). Ayrıca yüzey alanlarının geniş olması, istenen fonksiyonel grupları içerisine ya da yüzeyine bağlayabilme yetenekleri ve direkt hedef hücreye bırakabilmeleri, KNT'leri ilaç taşıyıcısı olarak etkili bir aday haline getirmektedir (55,56).…”