(Invited) Biomedical Applications of Metal Nanoparticle-Decorated Carbon Nanostructures

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes and graphene are highly sensitive to changes in the local chemical environment and serve as an ideal platform for the fabrication of label-free nanoelectronic sensors. We recently employed a series of metal nanoparticle functionalized carbon nanotube devices as cross-sensitive sensor arrays, demonstrating electronic “tongue” functions and ability to analyze different cell types. By combining analysis of sensor device characteristics with supervised machine learning algorithms, we have successfully discriminated among different analytes and accurately discerned the presence of specific analytes in the complex mixtures. Carbon nanostructures can also be used as nano-carriers for applications in medical therapeutics. To this end, we developed cup-shaped carbon nanostructures, which have an elliptical hollow space that can be corked by gold nanoparticles at the opening. To illustrate the potential of corked nanocups as drug delivery systems, loading with common fluorescent dyes, as well as chemotherapeutic drugs, was performed. By using Raman spectroscopy, we were able to demonstrate the loading and release of the cargo in biochemical model systems and tumor-associated cells. We recently demonstrated in vivo systemic nanodelivery of paclitaxel loaded gold nanoparticle-corked nanocups inhibited melanoma growth in mice with 25-30% of treated animals being tumor free after 2-3 weeks. Figure 1