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Review
. 2015 Jul;12(7):1071-87.
doi: 10.1517/17425247.2015.1003806. Epub 2015 Jan 19.

Carbon nanotubes part I: preparation of a novel and versatile drug-delivery vehicle

Mahdi Karimi  1 , Navid Solati, Mohammad Amiri, Hamed Mirshekari, Elmira Mohamed, Mahdiar Taheri, Mahshid Hashemkhani, Ahad Saeidi, Mehrdad Asghari Estiar, Parnian Kiani, Amir Ghasemi, Seyed Masoud Moosavi Basri, Amir R Aref, Michael R Hamblin
Affiliations
Review

Carbon nanotubes part I: preparation of a novel and versatile drug-delivery vehicle

Mahdi Karimi et al. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2015 Jul.

Abstract

Introduction: It is 23 years since carbon allotrope known as carbon nanotubes (CNT) was discovered by Iijima, who described them as "rolled graphite sheets inserted into each other". Since then, CNTs have been studied in nanoelectronic devices. However, CNTs also possess the versatility to act as drug- and gene-delivery vehicles.

Areas covered: This review covers the synthesis, purification and functionalization of CNTs. Arc discharge, laser ablation and chemical vapor deposition are the principle synthesis methods. Non-covalent functionalization relies on attachment of biomolecules by coating the CNT with surfactants, synthetic polymers and biopolymers. Covalent functionalization often involves the initial introduction of carboxylic acids or amine groups, diazonium addition, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition or reductive alkylation. The aim is to produce functional groups to attach the active cargo.

Expert opinion: In this review, the feasibility of CNT being used as a drug-delivery vehicle is explored. The molecular composition of CNT is extremely hydrophobic and highly aggregation-prone. Therefore, most of the efforts towards drug delivery has centered on chemical functionalization, which is usually divided in two categories; non-covalent and covalent. The biomedical applications of CNT are growing apace, and new drug-delivery technologies play a major role in these efforts.

Keywords: addition reaction; carbon nanotubes; functional group; functionalization; purification; synthesis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest

This work was supported by NIH grant R01A1050875. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic of (A) single-walled carbon nanotube (B) multi-walled carbon nanotube.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Stone-Wales (or 7-5-5-7) defect on sidewall of nanotube.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A – C) classification of SWCNTs, armchair, zigzag and chiral respectively. Armchair and zigzag refer to the shape of cross sectional ring. (D) Unrolled honeycomb lattice of a SWCNT. SWCNT: Single-walled carbon nanotube.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematic of (A) arc discharge (B) laser ablation and (C) chemical vapor deposition methods.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Different methods for functionalization of CNTs
CNT: Carbon nanotube.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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