A Review on Carbon Nanotubes as Novel Drug Carriers in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Cancer causes one of the pre-eminent health problems all over the world currently. Chemotherapy is used as a conventional treatment, which uses one or more anti-cancer drugs as part of a standardized procedure. The idea of selective treatment to cure cancer is established by carbon nanotube (CNT). In this review paper, the advances in the application of carbon nanotubes as target carriers and drug delivery system for cancer therapies have been studied. CNTs due to their physicochemical and selective targeting abilities and shape act as drug delivery systems. Internal drug loading encompasses decoration utilizes capillarity, encapsulating anti-cancer drugs like Cisplatin. The external loading takes place by linkers. The biocompatible drug targeting mechanisms like active and passive lead to targeted delivery. Hence, eliminating any damage to healthy tissues resulting in negligible side effects. The functionalization of CNTs being crucial in penetrating and increasing hydrophilicity entails non-covalent and covalent methods. This also helps them to penetrate through immunity barrier and ensure a targeted release.