Polymer-functionalized carbon nanotubes in cancer therapy: a review

Cytotoxicity Analysis for the Hydroxyl Functionalized MWCNT Reinforced PMMA Nanocomposites in Oral Squamous Carcinoma (KB) Cells

In this particular research study, a unique three-dimensional mixing technique was used to incorporate multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and the KB cell line was used in the analysis of cytotoxicity, apoptosis detection, and cell viability using the MTT assay protocol. At low concentrations (0.001 to 0.1 g/mL), these results showed that the CNT did not seem to cause cell death or apoptosis directly. It increased lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity against KB cell lines. This was demonstrated by the fact that the CNT increased the time it took for KB cell lines to die. In the end, the unique three-dimensional mixing method solves problems such as clumping and uneven mixing that have been written about in the relevant literature. Phagocytic uptake of MWCNT-reinforced PMMA nanocomposite by KB cells leads to oxidative stress and apoptosis induction in a dose-dependent manner. The cytotoxicity of the generated composite and the ROS (reactive oxygen species) it produces may be controlled by adjusting the MWCNT loading. The conclusion that can be drawn from the studies to date is that it could be possible to treat some types of cancer using PMMA that has MWCNTs incorporated into it.

Eco-friendly synthesis of carbon nanotubes and their cancer theranostic applications

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with attractive physicochemical characteristics such as high surface area, mechanical strength, functionality, and electrical/thermal conductivity have been widely studied in different fields of science. However, the preparation of these nanostructures on a large scale is either expensive or sometimes ecologically unfriendly. In this context, plenty of studies have been conducted to discover innovative methods to fabricate CNTs in an eco-friendly and inexpensive manner. CNTs have been synthesized using various natural hydrocarbon precursors, including plant extracts (e.g., tea-tree extract), essential oils (e.g., eucalyptus and sunflower oil), biodiesel, milk, honey, and eggs, among others. Additionally, agricultural bio-wastes have been widely studied for synthesizing CNTs. Researchers should embrace the usage of natural and renewable precursors as well as greener methods to produce various types of CNTs in large quantities with the advantages of cost-effectiveness and environmentally benign features. In addition, multifunctionalized CNTs with improved biocompatibility and targeting features are promising candidates for cancer theranostic applications owing to their attractive optical, chemical, thermal, and electrical properties. This perspective discusses the recent developments in eco-friendly synthesis of CNTs using green chemistry-based techniques, natural renewable resources, and sustainable catalysts, with emphasis on important challenges and future perspectives and highlighting techniques for the functionalization or modification of CNTs. Significant and promising cancer theranostic applications as well as their biocompatibility and cytotoxicity issues are also discussed.

Adsorption, and controlled release of doxorubicin from cellulose acetate/polyurethane/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composite nanofibers

The cellulose acetate (CA)/poly (ε-caprolactone diol)/poly (tetramethylene ether) glycol-polyurethane (PCL-Diol/PTMG-PU)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite nanofibers were prepared via two-nozzle electrospinning on both counter sides of the collector. The performance of synthesized composite nanofibers was investigated as an environmental application and anticancer delivery system for the adsorption/release of doxorubicin (DOX). The synergic effect of MWCNTs and DOX incorporated into the nanofibers was investigated against LNCaP prostate cancer cells. The status of MWCNTs and DOX in composite nanofibers was demonstrated by SEM, FTIR and UV-vis determinations. The adsorption tests using nanofibrous adsorbent toward DOX sorption was evaluated under various DOX initial concentrations (100-2000 mg l^-1), adsorption times (5-120 min), and pH values (pH:2-9). Due to the fitting of isotherm and kinetic data with Redlich-Peterson and pseudo-second order models, both chemisorption and surface adsorption of DOX molecules mechanisms have been predicted. The drug release from both nanofibers and MWCNTs-loaded nanofibers was compared. The better drug sustained release profiles verified in the presence of composite nanofibers. LNCaP prostate cancer and L929 normal cells were treated to investigate the cytotoxicity and compatibility of synthesized composite nanofibers. The apoptosis/necrosis of hybrid nanofibers and MWCNTs loaded-nanofibers was investigated. The obtained results demonstrated the synergic effects of MWCNTs and DOX loaded-nanofibers on the LNCaP prostate cancer cells death.

Functionalized Graphene Platforms for Anticancer Drug Delivery

Two-dimensional nanomaterials are emerging as promising candidates for a wide range of biomedical applications including tissue engineering, biosensing, pathogen incapacitation, wound healing, and gene and drug delivery. Graphene, due to its high surface area, photothermal property, high loading capacity, and efficient cellular uptake, is at the forefront of these materials and plays a key role in this multidisciplinary research field. Poor water dispersibility and low functionality of graphene, however, hamper its hybridization into new nanostructures for future nanomedicine. Functionalization of graphene, either by covalent or non-covalent methods, is the most useful strategy to improve its dispersion in water and functionality as well as processability into new materials and devices. In this review, recent advances in functionalization of graphene derivatives by different (macro)molecules for future biomedical applications are reported and explained. In particular, hydrophilic functionalization of graphene and graphene oxide (GO) to improve their water dispersibility and physicochemical properties is discussed. We have focused on the anticancer drug delivery of polyfunctional graphene sheets.

Carbon-based nanomaterials for targeted cancer nanotherapy: recent trends and future prospects

Carbon-based nanomaterials are becoming attractive materials due to their unique structural dimensions and promising mechanical, electrical, thermal, optical and chemical characteristics. Carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphene oxide, carbon and graphene quantum dots have numerous applications in diverse areas, including biosensing, drug/gene delivery, tissue engineering, imaging, regenerative medicine, diagnosis, and cancer therapy. Cancer remains one of the major health problems all over the world, and several therapeutic approaches are focussed on designing targeted anticancer drug delivery nanosystems by applying benign and less hazardous resources with high biocompatibility, ease of functionalization, remarkable targeted therapy issues, and low adverse effects. This review highlights the recent development on these carbon based-nanomaterials in the field of targeted cancer therapy and discusses their possible and promising diagnostic and therapeutic applications for the treatment of cancers.

Carbon-Based Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications: A Recent Study

The study of carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) for biomedical applications has attracted great attention due to their unique chemical and physical properties including thermal, mechanical, electrical, optical and structural diversity. With the help of these intrinsic properties, CBNs, including carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene oxide (GO), and graphene quantum dots (GQDs), have been extensively investigated in biomedical applications. This review summarizes the most recent studies in developing of CBNs for various biomedical applications including bio-sensing, drug delivery and cancer therapy.

Mechanistic Insight into the Light-Irradiated Carbon Capsules as an Antibacterial Agent

Infections caused by bacteria are a growing global challenge for public health as bacteria develop resistance, which will cause the failure of anti-infective treatment eventually. An effective alternative strategy to traditional antibacterial therapy is utilizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill bacteria. Here, we report a simple route to prepare PEGylated nitrogen-doped carbon capsules (PEG-N-CCs) as an antibacterial agent. The PEG-N-CCs can translate near-infrared light (NIR) into heat and produce a high concentration of ROS triggered by NIR irradiation. Both heating and ROS are critical to destroy the outer membranes and rupture cell bodies, causing DNA fragmentation and glutathione oxidation both in Gram-negative Escherichia coli, Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, and their multidrug-resistant strains. Moreover, PEG-N-CCs plus NIR irradiation can efficiently scavenge the existing biofilms and prevent the formation of new biofilms, killing planktonic bacteria as well as those within the biofilm. Our studies prove that the PEG-N-CCs plus NIR irradiation can provide a simple and effective platform for combating bacteria, employing carbon nanomaterials as an antibacterial alternative for treatment of infectious diseases.

Recent advances in carbon based nanosystems for cancer theranostics

This review deals with four different types of carbon allotrope based nanosystems and summarizes the results of recent studies that are likely to have applications in cancer theranostics. We discuss the applications of these nanosystems for cancer imaging, drug delivery, hyperthermia, and PDT/TA/PA.

Surface Modified Multifunctional and Stimuli Responsive Nanoparticles for Drug Targeting: Current Status and Uses

Nanocarriers, due to their unique features, are of increased interest among researchers working with pharmaceutical formulations. Polymeric nanoparticles and nanocapsules, involving non-toxic biodegradable polymers, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, and inorganic-organic nanomaterials, are among the most used carriers for drugs for a broad spectrum of targeted diseases. In fact, oral, injectable, transdermal-dermal and ocular formulations mainly consist of the aforementioned nanomaterials demonstrating promising characteristics such as long circulation, specific targeting, high drug loading capacity, enhanced intracellular penetration, and so on. Over the last decade, huge advances in the development of novel, safer and less toxic nanocarriers with amended properties have been made. In addition, multifunctional nanocarriers combining chemical substances, vitamins and peptides via coupling chemistry, inorganic particles coated by biocompatible materials seem to play a key role considering that functionalization can enhance characteristics such as biocompatibility, targetability, environmental friendliness, and intracellular penetration while also have limited side effects. This review aims to summarize the "state of the art" of drug delivery carriers in nanosize, paying attention to their surface functionalization with ligands and other small or polymeric compounds so as to upgrade active and passive targeting, different release patterns as well as cell targeting and stimuli responsibility. Lastly, future aspects and potential uses of nanoparticulated drug systems are outlined.

Impact of dendritic polymers on nanomaterials

Primary/secondary covalent/non-covalent interactions between dendritic polymers and nanomaterials can change the physicochemical properties, such as shape, of the obtained hybrid nanomaterials.

Advances in the biomedical application of polymer-functionalized carbon nanotubes

Water soluble carbon nanotubes as multivalent nanomaterials for biomedical applications have been discussed.