Biocompatible carbon nanotubes generated by functionalization with glycodendrimers.

Abstract

The structural, mechanical, electrical, and optical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have stimulated considerable interest in their biological applications[1-3]. SWNTs have been employed for biosensing[4], imaging[5], intracellular delivery[6], and cancer cell targeting[7, 8]. However, expanded use of SWNTs in living systems will require strategies to diminish their cytotoxicity[9-12]. Thus, surface modifications that mitigate the toxicity of SWNTs while simultaneously enabling specific biological recognition are highly sought after[8,13-17].