Carbon nanotubes for delivery of small molecule drugs

Abstract

In the realm of drug delivery, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have gained tremendous attention as promising nanocarriers, owing to their distinct characteristics, such as high surface area, enhanced cellular uptake and the possibility to be easily conjugated with many therapeutics, including both small molecules and biologics, displaying superior efficacy, enhanced specificity and diminished side effects. While most CNT-based drug delivery system (DDS) had been engineered to combat cancers, there are also emerging reports that employ CNTs as either the main carrier or adjunct material for the delivery of various non-anticancer drugs. In this review, the delivery of small molecule drugs is expounded, with special attention paid to the current progress of in vitro and in vivo research involving CNT-based DDSs, before finally concluding with some consideration on inevitable complications that hamper successful disease intervention with CNTs.

Keywords: 1,2-Distearoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine-methoxy-polyethylene glycol conjugate-2000; 1-Octadecanethiol functionalized GNP; 10-Hydroxycamptothecin; 2,2′-(Ethylene dioxy) bis(ethylene amine); 2′,2′-Difluoro-2′-deoxycytidine; AAS; AMB; Amphotericin B; Anticancer drugs; Atomic absorption spectroscopy; BBB; BCEC; BSA; Blood brain barrier; Bovine serum albumin; Brain capillary endothelial cells; CDDP; CEA; CHI; CNF; CNTs; CP; CPT; CT; Camptothecin; Carbon nanofiber; Carbon nanotubes; Carboplatin; Carcinoembryonic antigen; Catechin; Ce6; Chitosan; Chlorin e6; Cisplatin; DAU; DDS; DEX; DMAAM; DNA; DOX; DSPE-mPEG 2000; DTX; DWCNTs; Daunorubicin; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Dexamethasone; Docetaxel; Double-walled CNTs; Doxorubicin; Drug delivery; Drug delivery system; EAT; EC; EDBE; EDX; EGF; EGF receptors; EGFR; EPC; EPI; EPR; ER; ES; ES receptor; Ehlrich ascites tumor; Endothelial progenital cell; Energy dispersive X-ray analysis; Enhanced permeability and retention; Epidermal growth factor; Epirubicin; Estradiol; Ethyl cellulose; FA; FA receptor; FITC; FR; FTIR; Fluorescein isothiocyanate; Folic acid; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; GEM; GNP; Gelatin–catechin; Gel–CT; Gemcitabine; Gold NP; HA; HCPT; HET-CAM; HMM; HMME; HR; HUVEC; Hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether; Hen's egg test-chorioallantoic membrane; Hexamethylmelamine; Human umbilical vein endothelial cells; Hyaluronan receptor; Hyaluronic acid; ICP-OES; Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy; LRP; LcL; Lipoprotein receptor-related protein; Luciola cruciate luciferase; MAPK; MDR; MTX; MWCNTs; Magnetic activated carbon particles; Methotrexate; Mitogen-activated protein kinase; Multi-walled CNTs; Multidrug resistance; N-dimethylacrylamide; N-isopropylacrylamide; NIPAM; NIR; NP; NSAID; Nanoparticles; Near infrared; Non-anticancer drugs; Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; ODT-f-GNP; P-glycoprotein; P-gp; PAA; PAMAM; PBS; PCA; PDM; PDT; PEG; PEG PSS; PEI; PEO; PK; PL; PLA; PSS; PTT; PTX; PVA; Paclitaxel; Pharmacokinetic; Phosphate buffered saline; Phospholipid; Photodynamic therapy; Photothermal therapy; Platinum; Poly (ethylene glycol-b-propylene sulfide); Poly(acrylic acid); Poly(amidoamine); Poly(lactide); Poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate); Poly(vinyl alcohol); Poly-ethylene oxide; Polyamholyte poly [2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate]-co-(methacrylic acid); Polycitric acid; Polyethylene glycol; Polyethylenimine; Pt; QD; Quantum Dot; RES; RF; ROS; Radiofrequency; Reactive oxygen species; Reticuloendothelial system; Rh; Rhodamine; SCID; SD; SEM; SWCNTs; Scanning electron microscopy; Severe combined immunodeficient; Single-walled CNTs; Small interference ribonucleic acids; Small molecule drugs; Sprague Dawley; TEM; TPGS; Tocopheryl PEG succinate; Transferrins; Transmission electron microscopy; Trf; US-CNTs; UV–vis; Ultra-short CNTs; Ultraviolet–visible; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; XPS; dC; mACs; siRNA.