Multiwalled carbon nanotubes for dental applications

Abstract

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are a particularly promising drug delivery system due to their high surface area allowing high-protein loading, their stability under biological conditions, and their unique interaction with cellular membranes. Studies have shown that covalent attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) improves biocompatibility and enhances surface hydrophilicity properties, suggesting that PEGylated MWCNTs are efficient and toxic-safe drug delivery systems. So far, CNTs are used for a broad range of applications in dentistry, especially for dental tissue repair and restorative. Here we present a protocol of protein immobilization onto MWCNTs and describe the procedure for delivering them into the cells after characterization of the nanotubes.