A review on emerging role of multifunctional carbon nanotubes as an armament in cancer therapy, imaging and biosensing

The use of traditional chemotherapy to treat cancer is often limited by the toxic side effects of anti-cancer drugs on the body. Additionally, there are major challenges in the form of higher incidence of cell mutations, diverse tumour microenvironments, and unequal patient needs. Therefore, there is a need for the development and implementation of novel approaches to improve the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy. One promising approach is the use of theranostic multifunctional carbon nanotubes (mf-CNTs) as a carrier for potent therapeutics in the diagnosis and treatment of various types of cancers. The functionalization characteristics of carbon nanotubes provide a powerful platform for the fabrication of suitable materials, such as therapeutic agents, imaging agents, and specific ligands. The ability of mf-CNTs to deliver small molecules and macromolecules, enable real-time imaging of tumours and targeted drug delivery, has made them a highly sought-after carrier among other nanocarriers. The physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of mf-CNTs, such as their significant uptake by specific tumour cells, long time blood circulation, complete elimination through the body, and biocompatibility, indicate a promising approach for anticancer therapy with highly toxic and potent anticancer agents. Therefore, the therapeutic uses of multifunctional CNTs based nanoplatform have tremendous potential for the treatment of cancers in the future. These advancements in nanotechnology have the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment and provide patients with a more effective and safer approach to combating this devastating disease.