Surface modification of carbon nano tubes with nystatin for drug delivery applications

Abstract

The present study is an approach to describe the increased antifungal efficacy of Nystatin by conjugation with functionalized multi-walled carbon nano tubes. Functionalized Multi-walled carbon nano tubes are acts as nano vectors for the delivery of therapeutic molecules by conjugation. Structural properties of carbon nano tubes have emerged as a new alternative and efficient tool for transporting and translocating therapeutic molecules to target moieties. Carbon nano tubes are easily cross cell membranes delivered drug molecules into fungal cells. Nystatin, most effective antibiotic in the treatment of fungal infections. Carbon nano tubes oxidized using strong acids (3:1 Ratio of Concentrated Sulphuric and Nitric acid), resulting in the reduction of their length while generating carboxylic groups, which increase their dispersibility in aqueous solutions. Oxidised CNTs are then functionalized by direct coupling of Ethylene-diamine with carboxylic groups cited at external walls to introduced amino group via amide formation. Nystatin, most effective antibiotic is conjugated with CNTs via two step process of diamide-activated amidation. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT/IR), UV-Visible Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), & Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) measurements clearly confirmed the functionalization & conjugation steps.