Carbon nanotubes: Applications in cancer therapy and drug delivery research

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are novel nanocarrier systems that have a wide range of applications in science, engineering, and, the environment. Owing to the possible functionalization of CNTs (i.e., surface-engineering of the nanotubes) with certain chemical groups their physical or biological properties can be manipulated for various applications. In addition to the ability of CNTs to act as carriers for a wide range of therapeutic molecules, their large surface area and possibility to manipulate their surfaces and physical dimensions have been exploited to use them in thermal conductivity in order to photothermally kill cancer cells. This review will discuss the therapeutic applications of CNTs with a major focus on cancer.