Title: Functionalised carbon nanotubes: high biocompatibility with lack of toxicity

Authors: M. Antonia Herrero; Lara Lacerda; Alberto Bianco; Kostas Kostarelos; Maurizio Prato

Addresses: Facultad de Química, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy. ' Nanomedicine Laboratory, Centre for Drug Delivery Research, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, UK. ' CNRS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UPR 9021 Immunologie et Chimie Thérapeutiques, 67000 Strasbourg, France. ' Nanomedicine Laboratory, Centre for Drug Delivery Research, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, UK. ' Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy

Abstract: Recent studies from our laboratories have clearly shown the utility of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in biomedical applications. Therefore, the behaviour of CNTs following in vivo administration is of high interest. In this paper, we summarise some of our previously published results towards the assessment of the health impact of CNTs. We will initially describe the in vivo distribution of radiolabelled multi-walled CNTs (MWNTs) once they reach systemic circulation using micro Single Photon Emission Tomography (microSPECT) imaging and scintillation counting. Our conclusions on the effect of CNT degree of functionalisation on the tissue accumulation will also be described. Finally, our proposed mechanism of CNT elimination from the body through the kidney glomerular filtration barrier will be shown. Overall, through this overview of our recent studies we offer a summary of why we believe the development of functionalised carbon nanotubes can be further explored since it increasingly offers biocompatible material with lack of toxic responses.

Keywords: carbon nanotubes; multi-walled CNTs; MWNTs; functionalisation; nanomedicine; toxicity; kidney glomerular filtration barrier; nanotechnology; biomedical applications; tissue accumulation; biomedical technology; biocompatible materials.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2011.044433

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2011 Vol.8 No.10/11/12, pp.885 - 897

Published online: 24 Dec 2011 *

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