Carbon-based nanomaterials: multifunctional materials for biomedical engineering

Abstract

Functional carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) have become important due to their unique combinations of chemical and physical properties (i.e., thermal and electrical conductivity, high mechanical strength, and optical properties), and extensive research efforts are being made to utilize these materials for various industrial applications, such as high-strength materials and electronics. These advantageous properties of CBNs are also actively investigated in several areas of biomedical engineering. This Perspective highlights different types of carbon-based nanomaterials currently used in biomedical applications.

Figure 1

Various types of carbon-based nanomaterials.

Figure 2

Binding model of a carbon nanotube (CNT) with a poly(T) DNA sequence. The DNA wraps around the CNT in a right-handed helical structure. The bases (red) orient to stack with the surface of the nanotube, and extend away from the sugar-phosphate backbone (yellow). The DNA wraps to provide a tube within which the CNT can reside, hence converting it into a water-soluble object. Reprinted with permission from ref. . Copyright 2003 Nature Publishing Group.

Figure 3

(a) Schematic description of gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) coated onto a carbon nanotube (CNT). (b) High resolution TEM image of CNT-GelMA. (c) Stress-strain curves of CNT-GelMA hydrogels with various concentrations of CNTs. (d) Tensile moduli of CNT-GelMA hydrogels. (e) 3T3 fibroblasts cultured on GelMA hydrogel (A) and CNT-GelMA hydrogel (B).(Scale bar: 100 μm) Reprinted from ref. . Copyright 2011 American Chemical Society.

Figure 4

(a) Graphene oxide (GO) was funtionalized with folic acid (FA) as a targeting molecule (FA-NGO), then loaded with anti-cancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX) or camptothecin (CPT). (b) FA-NGO was localized into MCF-7 (human breast cancer) cells, identified with fluorescent labeling with rhodamine. (c) Greater anti-cancer activity of DOX was observed when FA-NGO was used as a drug carrier. Reprinted with permission from ref. . Copyright 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co.

Figure 5

(a) A class of C₆₀ derivatives that display anti-HIV activity. (b) Molecular structure of a 5 nm-diameter nanodiamond (ND). The ND is mostly made up of sp³ carbon, but the outer layer is functionalized with sp² carbon and other functional groups. Reprinted with permission from ref. . Copyright 2012 Nature Publishing Group.