Carbon Nanotubes: Materials for Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnological Applications

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes are considered as molecular wires exhibiting novel properties for diverse applications including medicinal and biotechnological purposes. Surface chemistry on carbon nanotubes results on their solubilization in organic solvents and/or aqueous/physiological media. Herein, we will present how interfacing such novel carbon-based nanomaterials with biological systems may lead to new applications in diagnostics, vaccine and drug delivery. Recent developments in this rapidly growing field will be presented thus suggesting exciting opportunities for the utilization of carbon nanotubes as useful tools for biotechnological applications. Emphasis will be placed in the integration of biomaterials with carbon nanotubes, which enables the use of such hybrid systems as biosensor devices, immunosensors and DNA-sensors.

Functionalized carbon nanotubes and nanofibers for biosensing applications

“…Recent studies have demonstrated that CNTs are promising materials for electrochemical biosensors and show great potential for use in the next generation of biosensors [4][5][6]. For example, CNTs can enhance the electroactivity of biomelecules and promote the electrontransfer reaction of proteins due to their electrocatalytic capabilities [14,15].…”

“…Due to their unique electric, electrocatalytic, and mechanical properties, CNTs are the excellent candidates for development of enzyme/protein-based biosensors [4][5][6].…”

“…Since the early 1990s, the science and technology of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been one of the fastest growing areas of research in chemistry, physics, materials, and life technologies [1][2][3][4]. The important properties and possible potential applications of CNTs have been extensively reviewed in recent years [3,[5][6][7][8][9].…”

“…Of the applications, the development of CNTbased biosensors is one of most interesting areas, which has increased tremendously in recent decades. CNTs are attractive because of their unique properties (e.g., high electrical conductivity, great chemical stability and extremely high mechanical strength [3][4][5][6].…”

“…Typical SWCNTs have an open-ended nanostraw or a capped nanohorn tubular structure. Because of their highly oriented architectures, these novel nanostructures possess unique electronic, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties that differ from those of bulk graphite and diamond [3][4][5][6]. SWCNTs and MWCNTs are prepared with different approaches (e.g., chemical-vapor deposition (CVD)), which have been summarized [7,11].…”