Carbon nanotubes filled with a chemotherapeutic agent: a nanocarrier mediates inhibition of tumor cell growth.
OBJECTIVE
In this paper, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are presented as feasible carriers for carboplatin, a therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. The drug was introduced into CNTs to demonstrate that they are suited as nanocontainers and nanocarriers and can release the drug to initialize its medical virtue.


METHODS
The filling was accomplished by a wet-chemical approach after the CNTs were opened. The effect on cell proliferation and cytotoxicity of the carboplatin-filled CNT was investigated by using a viability assays.


RESULTS
Using different analysis methods such as electron energy loss spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy the structure of carboplatin incorporated into the CNTs was found to be retained. In vitro studies showed that carboplatin-filled CNTs inhibited growth of bladder cancer cells whereas unfilled, opened CNTs barely affected cancer cell growth.


CONCLUSIONS
A reversible filling-emptying process could be performed successfully within this work. This highlights the potential of CNTs for applications in the field of drug delivery.
Hampel
Silke
S
Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, PF 270116, 01171 Dresden, Germany. s.hampel@ifw-dresden.de
Kunze
Doreen
D
Haase
Diana
D
Krämer
Kai
K
Rauschenbach
Mandy
M
Ritschel
Manfred
M
Leonhardt
Albrecht
A
Thomas
Jürgen
J
Oswald
Steffen
S
Hoffmann
Volker
V
Büchner
Bernd
B
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon