title: Applications of carbon nanotubes in drug delivery.
abstract: The development of new and efficient drug delivery systems is of fundamental importance to improve the pharmacological profiles of many classes of therapeutic molecules. Many different types of drug delivery systems are currently available. Within the family of nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes (CNT) have emerged as a new alternative and efficient tool for transporting and translocating therapeutic molecules. CNT can be functionalised with bioactive peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and drugs, and used to deliver their cargos to cells and organs. Because functionalised CNT display low toxicity and are not immunogenic, such systems hold great potential in the field of nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, UPR 9021 CNRS, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kostarelos
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prato
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008954:Models, Biological; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D010455:Peptides