title: Carbohydrate-conjugated multiwalled carbon nanotubes: development and characterization.
abstract: This work presents a novel cascade of chemical functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through chemical modification by a carbohydrate, D-galactose. Galactose-conjugated or galactosylated MWCNTs were synthesized involving the sequential steps of carboxylation, acylation, amine modification, and finally, galactose conjugation. The modification of MWCNTs with galactose was investigated by elemental analysis, x-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and zeta potential measurements, at every sequential step of functionalization. Size and surface characteristics of chemically modified MWCNTs were monitored by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. That galactosylation improved the dispersibility of MWCNTs in aqueous solvents was confirmed by investigation of their dispersion characteristics at different pH values. Thus, the galactosylated MWCNTs as developed could be used for delivery of different bioactive(s) as well as active ligand (galactose)-based targeting to hepatic tissue.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This work presents a novel cascade of functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through chemical modification by a carbohydrate. Galactosylation improves the dispersibility of MWCNTs in aqueous solvents. The galactosylated MWCNTs could be used for delivery of different bioactive(s) as well as active ligand-based targeting to hepatic tissue.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutics Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India. jnarendr@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Amit K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Vaibhav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.forename: Neelesh Kumar
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Mehra
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lodhi
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nahar
authors.forename: Dinesh K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Narendra K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Jain