SYNTHESIS OF CARBON NANOTUBES AND THEIR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATION

Since from the discovery of carbon nanotubes, researches are doing their level best for exploring the potential in biological and biomedical applications. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotropes of carbon with a nanostructure that can have a length-to-diameter ratio greater than 1,000,000. These cylindrical carbon molecules have novel properties that make them potentially useful in many applications in nanotechnology. Their unique surface area, stiffness, strength and resilience have led to much excitement in the field of pharmacy. Carbon nanotubes belong to the family of fullerenes which consists of graphite sheets rolled up into tubular form. These structures can be obtained either single or multi - walled nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes can also be made water soluble by surface functionalization. Molecular and ionic migration occurs through carbon nanotubes, thus offering novel opportunities for fabrication of molecular sensors and electronic nuclei acid sequencing. The modification of a carbon nanotube on a molecular level using biological molecules is essentially an example of the 'bottom-up' fabrication principle of bio nanotechnology. This article provides an overview about carbon nanotubes, synthesis, functionalization, their toxicity as well as their use for mediated target drug delivery.