INTRODUCTION

 Carbon nanotubes are allotropes of carbon, made of graphite, and have been constructed
in cylindrical tubes with nanometer scale in diameter and several millimeters in length.
 Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) consist exclusively of carbon atoms arranged in a series of
condensed benzene rings rolled up into a tubular structure.
 This nanomaterial belongs to the family of fullerenes, the third allotropic form of carbon
along with graphite and diamond.
 These are often described as a graphene sheet rolled up into the shape of a cylinder.
 Carbon nanotubes have potential therapeutic applications in the field of drug delivery,
diagnostics, and bio sensing. Functionalized carbon nanotubes can also act as vaccine
delivery systems.
 They have a very broad range of electronic, Thermal, and structural properties.
 Besides these main applications of CNTs, they have been shown as a powerful tool for
enantiomer separation of chiral drugs and chemicals in pharmaceutical industry as well as
in laboratory.
 Carbon nanotubes have the potential to carry drugs in the organism as they are hollow and
much smaller than the blood cells.
 PROPERTIES

1. High surface area

2. Excellent chemical stability
3. Rich electronic poly aromatic structure
4. CNTs are not soluble in aqueous solutions because they have highly hydrophobic
surfaces.
5. Small size
6. High surface to volume ratio.
 TYPES OF CARBON NANOTUBES

Based on the number of layers, CNTs are classified into two types:
 single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)
 Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs).
SWCNTs MWCNTs
 Single graphene layer  Multiple graphene layer
 Catalyst is required for synthesis  It can be produced without catalyst

 Purity is low and Chance of defect  Purity is high and Chance of defect
is more is less
 Less accumulation in the body  More accumulation in the body

 Characterization and evaluation is  Characterization and evaluation is

easy difficult
 It can be easily twisted  It cannot be easily twisted
SWCNTs MWCNTs
 METHODS OF PREPARATION
There are three types of methods generally used:
1. ARC Discharge method
2. Laser Ablation method

3. CVD ( chemical vapour deposition)

ARC DISCHARGE METHOD:

In this method, nanotubes are produced through arc-
vaporization of two carbon rods placed end to end with a
distance of 1mm in an environment of inert gas such as
helium, argon at pressure between 50 to 700 mbar. Carbon
rods are evaporated by a direct current of 50 to 100 amps
driven by 20V which will create high temperature discharge
between two electrodes. Due to this, anode will get evaporated
and rod shaped tubes will be deposited on cathode. Bulk
production of CNTs depends on uniformity of plasma arc and
temperature of deposition.
 METHODS FOR OPENING, FILLING AND
CAPPING CARBON NANOTUBES

Carbon nanotubes are end-capped and thus for drug loading there are essentially two
approaches which include the filling of carbon nanotubes during synthesis or after synthesis.
Adding the contents of the nanotubes tends to be a less efficient approach, producing a yield
of around 10% whereas the post-synthesis process can be better controlled and yields of 50-
100% are achievable The appropriate method depends on the material that is to be inserted
into the CNT. The criteria include melting temperature, reactiveness, surface tension and
sensitivity of the material.

OPENING
Post-synthesis production of CNTs implies that the ends must be opened, This can be
accomplished by passing electric currents through the CNT, through attacking the CNT with
acid which corrodes the angled parts of the tube the most (i.e. the ends), or by oxidization
using carbon dioxide.
FILLING:
There are two ways to include foreign particles in CNTs. One
category is decoration, which is the process of bonding a
functional group to CNTs .This is difficult as carbon is rather
inert, so oxidization is used to produce a more reactive
attachment surface. The functional group is either bonded to
the inside or outside of the walls.

CLOSING OR CAPPING:
The CNTs are capped by passing a current which fuses

the ends closed.

DRUG LOADING:
The location of the drug to be delivered by the CNT can be internal or external. The loading
of CNTs remains an area requiring further research and more frequently mathematical methods
are used rather than laboratory experiments due to the comparatively lower cost. External
attachment of drugs is usually achieved by attaching molecules by amide, ester or disulphide
bonds.
MECHANISM BY WHICH CNT’S ENTER CELLS:
Passive diffusion of CNTs through the lipid bi layers of cell membrane. Attachment of CNTs to the
external cell membrane, resulting in its absorption by the cell using an energy-dependent process,
such as pinocytosis.
Endocytosis: Engulfing of CNTs directly by cell.
 PHARMACOKINETICS AND METABOLISM OF CARBON
NANO TUBES:
As drug carriers, the administration, absorption, and transportation of CNTs must be
considered for obtaining the desired treatment effects. The studied routes of CNT
administration include oral and injections such as subcutaneous injection, abdominal
injection, and intravenous injection.
After administration, absorption is the first key step for drug carriers to complete their drug-
delivering mission. Studies have suggested that CNTs themselves are capable of being
absorbed.
CNTs that are orally administered can be absorbed through the columnar cells of intestinal
mucous membrane, where this was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy . The
absorbed CNTs are transported from the administration sites to the effect-relevant sites by
blood or lymphatic circulation.
Both SWCNT and MWCNT were found to be excreted through the renal route and observed
to be intact in the excreted urine by transmission electron microscopy.
MODE OF BREAK DOWN IN THE BODY

Carbon nanotubes were once considered biopersistent in that they did not break down in body tissue

or in nature. In recent years, research has shown that laboratory animals exposed to carbon

nanotubes via inhalation or through injection into the abdominal cavity develop severe inflammation.

 In human’s a considerable time after exposure has shown for the first time that carbon nanotubes

can be broken down by an enzyme- Myelo peroxidase (MPO) -- found in white blood cells. This

enzyme is expressed in certain types of white blood cell (neutrophils), which use it to neutralize

harmful bacteria.

The researchers also showed that carbon nanotubes that have

been broken down by MPO no longer give rise to inflammation in mice.

 TOXICITY

Under some conditions, nanotubes can cross membrane barriers, which induce harmful
effects such as inflammatory and fibrotic reactions.Under certain conditions CNTs can enter
human cells and accumulate in the cytoplasm causing cell death. The process by which CNTs
were synthesized and the types and amounts of metals they contained, CNTs were capable of
producing inflammation, epitheloid granulomas (microscopic nodules) fibrosis and

biochemical/toxicological changes in the lungs.

FACTORS AFFECT CNTs TOXICITY

A list of factors that have been found to have an influence on the degree of toxicity of CNTs
follows below:
1. Concentration / dose of CNTs.
2. Length of the tubes
3. Catalyst residues left over during synthesis or functionalization
4. Degree of aggregation
 APPLICATIONS OF CNTs
MEDICINE AND PHARMACY:

1. Preservative:
Carbon nanotubes and nanohorns are antioxidant in nature. Hence, they are used to preserve
drugs formulations prone to oxidation. Their antioxidant property is used in anti aging cosmetics
and with zinc oxide as sunscreen dermatological to prevent oxidation of important skin
components.
2. As catalyst:
Nanohorns offer large surface area and hence, the catalyst at molecular level can be incorporated
into nanotubes in large amount and simultaneously can be released in required rate at
particular time. Hence, reduction in the frequency and amount of catalyst addition can be
achieved by using CNTs.

3. CNT-based carrier system can offer a successful oral alternative administration of

Erythropoietin (EPO), which has not been possible so far because of the denaturation of EPO
by the gastric environment conditions and enzymes.
4. Antibiotic Doxorubicin given with Nanotubes is reported for enhanced intracellular
penetration.
Non-Medical Applications:
1. Structural
2. Electromagnetic
3. Chemical
4. Mechanical
Structural:
They are used for various purposes
•Textiles – with the help of CNT we can make waterproof and tear resistant fabrics.
•Body armor – using CNT fibers MIT was able to stop bullets and monitor the
Condition of the wearer.

Electromagnetic:
Optical ignition – A layer of 29% iron enriched single-walled nanotubes (SWNT) is placed on top of a
layer of explosive material such as PETN, and can be ignited with a regular camera flash.

Chemical:
Desalination – water molecules can be separated from salt by forcing them through networks of
carbon nanotubes, which require far lower pressures than conventional reverse osmosis methods.
Air pollution filter – CNT membranes can filter carbon dioxide from power plant emissions.
 CONCLUSION
The above discussion reveals spectacular benefits of carbon Nanotubes during their
recent applications in different areas of pharmacy and medicine. The discovery of this bio
nanotechnology has opened new alternatives more effective than the ancient drug delivery methods
since CNTs can pass through cell membranes, carrying drugs, genes, biomolecules, vaccines, and so
forth deep into the target cells or organs previously unreachable. CNTs resist biodegradation and
are a powerful engineering candidate over other existing materials used to repair defective organs.
CNTs combined with biosensors or other materials have proven excellent
implements for the therapeutic monitoring and the diagnosis of diseases as well as for the analysis
of drugs in different areas. There are much about carbon Nanotubes that is still unknown. More
research needs to be done regarding the environmental and health impacts of producing large
quantities of them. There is no doubt however that carbon Nanotubes will play a significant role in a
wide range of commercial applications in the very near future.
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