title: Potential applications of boron nitride nanotubes as drug delivery systems.
abstract: In recent years, there has been an explosion of research in the 'bio-nano' field, with the discovery and introduction of ever more fascinating materials for applications as drug delivery systems, sensors, transducers, and so on. The author's group, for the first time in the literature, proposed boron nitride nanotubes as a valid alternative to carbon nanotubes and other kinds of inorganic materials, because of their improved chemical properties that theoretically guarantee better stability and compatibility in a biological context. In this paper, the bio-applications of boron nitride nanotubes that have emerged in the literature are summarized, with special attention given to their exploitation as safe drug delivery and targeting carriers. Finally, the possibility of combining their physical and chemical properties is approached, highlighting the features that render these innovative nanovectors unique and exceptional candidates for many bio-applications.
authors.affiliation: Center of MicroBioRobotics c/o Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Italian Institute of Technology, Smart Materials Lab, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio, 34-56025 Pontedera (Pisa), Italy. g.ciofani@sssup.it
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciofani
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D043942:Nanotubes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001896:Boron Compounds; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; C017282:boron nitride