Work

Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes: Revolution in Brain Delivery

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: Biocompatible functionalized carbon nanotubes Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are firstly described by Iijima in early nineties as needle-like tubes composed of layers of graphitic sheets [1]. Either single-walled or multiwalled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs or MWNTs), made of one or several layers of graphene, have been utilized mainly in industry due to their characteristic high mechanical strength, good electronic and thermal properties [2]. Together with the large surface area, the relatively low weight makes them ideal particularly for applications in neuroengineering [3]. However, due to the hydrophobic nature, pristine CNTs cannot be functionally integrated into biological systems unless they undergo surface fictionalization to become more biocompatible. Many approaches have been developed to alter the inert property of CNTs either through covalent (e.g., oxidation and chemical conjugation) or noncovalent (e.g., coating with hydrophilic or biological molecules) strategies [4]. Since then, functionalized CNTs (f-CNTs), possessing reduced cytotoxicity, have received tremendous attention as nanomaterials in biomedicine. In particular, f-CNTs held great promise as drug or gene carriers in vitro and in vivo [5,6].

Source: Nanomedicine

DOI: 10.2217/nnm.15.114

Authors: Julie Tzu-Wen Wang, Khuloud Taysir Al-Jamal

Institution: King's College London

Language: English

Topic: Graphene and Nanomaterials Applications

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,017