Functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) with CTACe surfactant and polyethylene glycol as potential drug carrier

Abstract

Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) pure is easy to form aggregate, making it difficult to apply as a drug carrier since it can be toxic to the body. It can be overcome by functionalization using surfactants, like cetyltrimethyl ammonium trichloro-monobromo-cerate (CTACe) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). First, MWCNT was functionalized with CTACe surfactant, then further PEG 6000 was used with several MWCNT-CTACe ratios. The functionalization was conducted under ultrasonic treatment, then followed by filtration, washing, and drying. The functionalized MWCNT underwent dispersion tests using water and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the solvents. A dispersion test with water solvent shows that the functionalized MWCNT still forms aggregates within a few minutes. Whereas, in DMSO solvent, the functionalized MWCNT can be stabilized for more than five days without forming aggregates. FTIR results show a new peak at 1105 cm−1 and an increased peak intensity around 3432 cm−1, corresponding to C-N and hydrogen bonding of N-H vibration from the CTACe. The FTIR from PEG addition shows an increase in the wavenumbers around 3432,87 cm−1, indicating the strength of O-H/N-H intermolecular hydrogen interactions of O-H PEG with N-H surfactant ether bonds.