CARBON NANOTUBES: A MEDICAL APPROACH, ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES

  • Monika Trivedi, Reecha, Vasundhara Magroliya

Abstract

From last few decades, as the atomic composition of filler
materials has reduced to the nanometer level; the performance of composite
materials has been enhanced. The field nanoscience and nanotechnology
have got attention from academia as well as industry. Recently, in the field
of nanotechnology have been achieved remarkable advances in the last few
years, particularly in the fabrication of sensors that have wide number of
applications. Nanomaterials are the foundation of nanotechnology that is
measured on nanoscale. Depending upon the number of carbon layers,
carbon nanotubes can be single-walled carbon nanotubes, double-walled
carbon nanotubes and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The fabriocation of
CNTs can done by three main methods i.e., chemical vapor deposition
(CVD), electric arc method and laser deposition method. CNTs exhibit
various properties namely high elasticity, high thermal conductivity, low
density and they are chemically more inert etc. Due to these interesting
properties, carbon nanotubes have played a significant role in the field of
nanotechnology, electronics, optics and other fields of materials science.
CNTs are positively used in drug delivery, sensing and water treatment etc.
Their surface can result in highly soluble materials which can derivatized
with active molecules and make them compatible for biological systems. The
surface functionalization also enables adsorption or attachment of
molecules or antigens which can be targeted desired cell for therapeutic
effect or immune recognition. In this review, properties of carbon nanotubes
and their clinical applications such as medical diagnostics and drug delivery
are being discussed. Here, antibacterial as well as antifungal activities of
carbon nanotubes are also being reviewed.

Published
2019-12-30
Section
Articles