Application of Nanotechnology in Diagnosis and Therapeutics
431
and relatively long circulation time also makes carbon nanotubes an attractive diagnostic and therapeutic nanodevices. The existing anticancer drugs are potent small
molecules, but they are restricted in terms of efficiency as they are toxic systemically
and have a narrow therapeutic window. Drug resistance and limited cellular entry are
another major limitation of the cancer drugs. Carbon nanotubes have shown great
results in cancer drug delivery system (Panchapakesan et al. 2005). It is capable of
crossing the biological barriers independently of the cell type they interact with and
the functional groups at their surface. It provides large surface areas for the multiple
attachments of the targeting drug which is very advantageous over the existing delivery vectors. Carbon nanotubes conjugates such as CNT-methotrexate developed by
Pastorin et al. (linked them with covalent linkages), are efficient in drug delivery. The
nature of covalent bonds between CNT and small molecules affects the efficiency of
the drug. Scientists have explored that non-covalent multi-walled carbon nanotubes
(MWNTs) are also efficient for the cancer drug delivery. In a study it was observed
that at certain mass ratio of drug and MWNTs have capability of killing human breast
cancer cells (Ali-Boucetta et al. 2008). The functionalized CNTs are also used as
the nucleic acids delivery vectors. The selective targeting to the tumor cells can also
be possible through nanoscale CNTs. The soluble nanoscale CNTs are modified by
attaching specific antibodies on the surface. These antibodies help in targeting the
tumor cells (Panchapakesan et al. 2005).
Carbon nanotubes exhibits great potential in enhancing the antitumor
immunotherapies. Cancer cells have various properties. They easily escape the body’s
immune response system and develop resistance against it. Antitumor immunotherapies are implied for the cancer treatment that can become more efficient (Meng
et al. 2008). There are various antitumor immunotherapies that involve tumor cell
vaccines made of inactivated cancer cells, dendritic cells that have been exposed to
tumor antigens or cytokines that modulates the immune functions. Here, the remarkable property of CNTs is by using it as transporters for bioactive molecules. The CNTs
conjugated with tumor cell lysate proteins show enhancement of specific antitumor
immune response (Meng et al. 2008).
Single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) are potent therapeutic nanobomb agents
for killing breast cancer cells (Panchapakesan et al. 2005). The working phenomenon
of nanobombs is the thermal-energy-confinement in SWCNT bundles and subsequent
vapourization of liquids between SWCNT in bundles that creates pressure followed
by eventual explosion. This system works in a host of different liquids such as
alcohols, deionized water, and phosphate buffered saline system. The cancer cells
can be completely explored by using potent nanobombs. These SWCNT are hydrated
in sheets and co-localized in the cancer cells. This method causes minimum collateral
damage to the neighboring cells. The optimal thermal transitions in SWCNT are the
creators of nanobombs (Panchapakesan et al. 2005). The cause of explosion in the
nanobombs is hydration of SWCNT and exposure to light that causes the thermal
energy to heat the water molecules which in turn creates pressure inside the SWCNT
bundles. This method is highly effective against cancer cells (Panchapakesan et al.
2005).
431
and relatively long circulation time also makes carbon nanotubes an attractive diagnostic and therapeutic nanodevices. The existing anticancer drugs are potent small
molecules, but they are restricted in terms of efficiency as they are toxic systemically
and have a narrow therapeutic window. Drug resistance and limited cellular entry are
another major limitation of the cancer drugs. Carbon nanotubes have shown great
results in cancer drug delivery system (Panchapakesan et al. 2005). It is capable of
crossing the biological barriers independently of the cell type they interact with and
the functional groups at their surface. It provides large surface areas for the multiple
attachments of the targeting drug which is very advantageous over the existing delivery vectors. Carbon nanotubes conjugates such as CNT-methotrexate developed by
Pastorin et al. (linked them with covalent linkages), are efficient in drug delivery. The
nature of covalent bonds between CNT and small molecules affects the efficiency of
the drug. Scientists have explored that non-covalent multi-walled carbon nanotubes
(MWNTs) are also efficient for the cancer drug delivery. In a study it was observed
that at certain mass ratio of drug and MWNTs have capability of killing human breast
cancer cells (Ali-Boucetta et al. 2008). The functionalized CNTs are also used as
the nucleic acids delivery vectors. The selective targeting to the tumor cells can also
be possible through nanoscale CNTs. The soluble nanoscale CNTs are modified by
attaching specific antibodies on the surface. These antibodies help in targeting the
tumor cells (Panchapakesan et al. 2005).
Carbon nanotubes exhibits great potential in enhancing the antitumor
immunotherapies. Cancer cells have various properties. They easily escape the body’s
immune response system and develop resistance against it. Antitumor immunotherapies are implied for the cancer treatment that can become more efficient (Meng
et al. 2008). There are various antitumor immunotherapies that involve tumor cell
vaccines made of inactivated cancer cells, dendritic cells that have been exposed to
tumor antigens or cytokines that modulates the immune functions. Here, the remarkable property of CNTs is by using it as transporters for bioactive molecules. The CNTs
conjugated with tumor cell lysate proteins show enhancement of specific antitumor
immune response (Meng et al. 2008).
Single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) are potent therapeutic nanobomb agents
for killing breast cancer cells (Panchapakesan et al. 2005). The working phenomenon
of nanobombs is the thermal-energy-confinement in SWCNT bundles and subsequent
vapourization of liquids between SWCNT in bundles that creates pressure followed
by eventual explosion. This system works in a host of different liquids such as
alcohols, deionized water, and phosphate buffered saline system. The cancer cells
can be completely explored by using potent nanobombs. These SWCNT are hydrated
in sheets and co-localized in the cancer cells. This method causes minimum collateral
damage to the neighboring cells. The optimal thermal transitions in SWCNT are the
creators of nanobombs (Panchapakesan et al. 2005). The cause of explosion in the
nanobombs is hydration of SWCNT and exposure to light that causes the thermal
energy to heat the water molecules which in turn creates pressure inside the SWCNT
bundles. This method is highly effective against cancer cells (Panchapakesan et al.
2005).