Carbon Nanotubes: Smart Drug/Gene Delivery Carriers
Authors: Ebrahim Mostafavi
Mahdi Karimi
Amir Ghasemi
Mohammad Ghanbari
Navid Rabiee
Sepideh Ahmadi
Michael R Hamblin
Thomas J Webster
Hossein Zare
Mojtaba Bagherzadeh
Journal: International Journal of Nanomedicine (2021)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: carbon nanotube; drug delivery; gene delivery; precision medicine.
Affiliations: Advances Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Biomaterials Group, Materials Science and Engineering Department, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran., Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Department of Engineering, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom., School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran., Department of Chemistry, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran., Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Research Center for Science and Technology in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, MA, Iran., Applied Biotechnology Research Centre, Tehran Medical Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, MA, Iran., Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa., Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA., Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.

Abstract:  The unique properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) (such as their high surface to volume ratios, enhanced conductivity and strength, biocompatibility, ease of functionalization, optical properties, etc.) have led to their consideration to serve as novel drug and gene delivery carriers. CNTs are effectively taken up by many different cell types through several mechanisms. CNTs have acted as carriers of anticancer molecules (including docetaxel (DTX), doxorubicin (DOX), methotrexate (MTX), paclitaxel (PTX), and gemcitabine (GEM)), anti-inflammatory drugs, osteogenic dexamethasone (DEX) steroids, etc. In addition, the unique optical properties of CNTs have led to their use in a number of platforms for improved photo-therapy. Further, the easy surface functionalization of CNTs has prompted their use to deliver different genes, such as plasmid DNA (PDNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and small interfering RNA (siRNA) as gene delivery vectors for various diseases such as cancers. However, despite all of these promises, the most important continuous concerns raised by scientists reside in CNT nanotoxicology and the environmental effects of CNTs, mostly because of their non-biodegradable state. Despite a lack of widespread FDA approval, CNTs have been studied for decades and plenty of in vivo and in vitro reports have been published, which are reviewed here. Lastly, this review covers the future research necessary for the field of CNT medicine to grow even further. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Could the authors confirm that co-author and Editor in Charge of this journal, Thomas J. Webster, is now affiliated with Applied Biotechnology Research Centre, Tehran Medical Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, MA, Iran as shows in this paper? Or was his inclusion in the author list an error? *** ![file] ,