Carbon Nanomaterials: From Therapeutics to Regenerative Medicine

Abstract

Carbon nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes and graphene, are widely studied as new biomaterials for delivering drugs as well as providing scaffolds to regenerate specific tissue/organs. In this review, we summarize the main achievements for novel carbon nanomaterials; surface functionalization, toxicity, cancer targeting, and nerve regeneration. In particular, this review describes different forms of carbon nanomaterials and their fabrication methods as threads or ribbons. Carbon nanomaterials as delivery vehicles are also proposed asefficient tools fortransporting and translocating therapeutic molecules with minimized toxicity. Further, nerve regeneration on carbon nanotube threads is briefly reviewed. We conclude with some speculations and predictions on futureexciting and challenging directions for carbon nanomaterial-based nanomedicineapplications.