Chapter 5 - Application of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials as Drug and Gene Delivery Carrier

Abstract

Nanotechnology is one of the most exciting disciplines that applied to improve the therapeutic indices by the carbon nanomaterials. Their unique physical and chemical properties make them interesting candidates of research in a wide range of areas including biological systems and different diseases. Recent research has been focused on exploring the potential of the carbon nanomaterials as a carrier or vehicle for intracellular transport of drugs, proteins, and targeted genes in vitro and in vivo. Several research groups are actively involved to find out a functional carbon nanomaterial carrier capable of transporting targeted drug molecules in animal models with least toxicity. This chapter is focused on carbon nanotubes, graphene, and carbon quantum dots, which appear to be promising agents for successful delivery of biomolecules in various animal models. But potential clinical implementations of carbon nanomaterials are still hampered by distinctive barriers such as poor bioavailability and intrinsic toxicity, which pose difficulties in tumor targeting and penetration as well as in improving therapeutic outcome. This chapter presents the progresses in the design and evaluation of closely related carbon nanomaterials for experimental cancer therapy and explores their implications in bringing nanomedicines into the clinics.