Preparation of Magnetic Carbon Nanotubes (Mag-CNTs) for Biomedical and Biotechnological Applications

Andrea Masotti,Andrea Caporali

doi:10.3390/ijms141224619

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been widely studied for their potential applications in many fields from nanotechnology to biomedicine. The preparation of magnetic CNTs (Mag-CNTs) opens new avenues in nanobiotechnology and biomedical applications as a consequence of their multiple properties embedded within the same moiety. Several preparation techniques have been developed during the last few years to obtain magnetic CNTs: grafting or filling nanotubes with magnetic ferrofluids or attachment of magnetic nanoparticles to CNTs or their polymeric coating. These strategies allow the generation of novel versatile systems that can be employed in many biotechnological or biomedical fields. Here, we review and discuss the most recent papers dealing with the preparation of magnetic CNTs and their application in biomedical and biotechnological fields.

Highlights

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been widely studied for their potential applications in electronic devices, hydrogen storage, drug delivery systems, adsorption and separation processes [1,2,3].Int
This hybrid material was further characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) whereas the magnetic and magnetoresistance properties of the single-molecule magnets (SMM) have been characterized by superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) and DC conductivity measurements [31]
The papers discussed in this review emphasize the role of magnetic carbon nanotubes (Mag-CNTs) as novel and promising drug delivery vectors for applications in biomedical and biotechnological applications

Summary

Introduction

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been widely studied for their potential applications in electronic devices, hydrogen storage, drug delivery systems, adsorption and separation processes [1,2,3]. The surface functionalization of CNTs with metallic nanoparticles has led to the preparation of powerful nanohybrids successfully employed in catalysis, gas sensors, and fuel cells [8,9,10,11] and for biomedical imaging, biomanipulation, supercapacitor, and environmental treatments [12,13,14,15,16] These nanomaterials have a huge potential as contrast agents for MRI [17], catalysis [18], magnetic hyperthermia [19] and in data storage devices [20] and the magnetic delivery of CNTs through an external magnetic field is considered a promising approach to achieve specificity (targeted delivery) when directing these nanosystems to diseased organs [21]. We will discuss the most widely employed techniques to obtain magnetic CNTs (Mag-CNTs) and their applications especially in the biomedical and biotechnological fields

Preparation of Magnetic Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon Nanotubes Filled with Metals

Endohedral Functionalization of CNTs

Decoration of the Carbon nanotubes’ Surface with Magnetic Nanoclusters

Carbon Nanotubes Decorated with Magnetic Nanoparticles

Coating of Magnetic Carbon Nanotubes with Mesoporous Silica

Coating of Carbon Nanotubes Prior to Incubation with Magnetic Nanoparticles

Coating of Magnetic Particles with Polymers prior to Incubation with CNTs

Magnetic Nanoparticles Embedded in the Carbon Nanotube’s Structure

General Discussion about the Preparation of Mag-CNTs

Applications

Applications in Biomedicine