Carbon nanostructures as multi-functional drug delivery platforms
- 22 October 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in Journal of Materials Chemistry B
- Vol. 1 (4), 401-428
- https://doi.org/10.1039/c2tb00085g
Abstract
Nanotechnology is providing exciting and new opportunities which are likely to revolutionize future clinical practice. The use of nanoparticles for biomedical applications is particularly exciting due to their huge potential for multi-modal approaches. This includes their use as drug delivery vectors, imaging contrast agents, hyperthermia systems and molecular targeting. Their ability to cross biological barriers, for example the blood brain barrier, makes them attractive for potential treatments in neurological disorders. There is also great hope that nanostructures will serve as platforms in future cancer therapies. Current cancer fighting strategies consist primarily of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Each of these treatments is bound by a limit, known as the therapeutic window, which, if exceeded, causes undue harm to the patient. In the ongoing quest to improve our therapeutic arsenal, nanoparticles are emerging as exciting structures for a new generation of multi-modal therapeutics. Within this context, carbon nanostructures are amongst the leading contenders as building blocks to deliver multi-function drug delivery platforms. This review examines the various properties of carbon nanostructures that allow such multi-functionality. Recent advances on the development of novel approaches for functionalization, targeting and imaging via carbon nanostructures are discussed.Keywords
This publication has 277 references indexed in Scilit:
- Using Graphene Oxide High Near‐Infrared Absorbance for Photothermal Treatment of Alzheimer's DiseaseAdvanced Materials, 2012
- Carbon nanohorns functionalized with polyamidoamine dendrimers as efficient biocarrier materials for gene therapyCarbon, 2012
- Efficient and rapid uptake of magnetic carbon nanotubes into human monocytic cells: implications for cell-based cancer gene therapyBiotechnology Letters, 2012
- Polymeric nanohybrids and functionalized carbon nanotubes as drug delivery carriers for cancer therapyAdvanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2011
- Facile Preparation of a New Gadofullerene-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent with High 1H RelaxivityBioconjugate Chemistry, 2009
- Molecular imaging with single-walled carbon nanotubesNano Today, 2009
- Nano-graphene oxide for cellular imaging and drug deliveryNano Research, 2008
- Tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate as a safe, antioxidant surfactant for processing carbon nanotubes and fullerenesCarbon, 2007
- Synthesis of high quality single-walled carbon nanotubes by arc discharge method in large scaleMaterials Letters, 2007
- C60 Carboxyfullerene Exerts a Protective Activity against Oxidative Stress-Induced Apoptosis in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear CellsBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2000