CNT Applications in Drug and Biomolecule Delivery

Abstract

One of the intrinsic properties of CNTs relied on for drug delivery is the ability of these materials, with sub-cell dimensions, to quite easily penetrate various cellular and other barriers in the body [73, 318, 330]. In this respect, the behavior of CNTs has been compared to metallic ``nanoneedles,'' some of which can perforate and diffuse through lipid bilayers of plasma membranes without inducing cell death [73]. Indeed, in vitro studies with magnetized CNTs and MCF-7 breast cancer cells have shown that CNTs do indeed cross the cell membrane like tiny needles [331]; this study was unfortunately extended to drug-bearing or functionalized CNTs.