Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 5
BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS IV: CARBON
NANOTUBENUCLEIC ACID COMPLEXES
FOR BIOSENSORS, GENE DELIVERY AND
SELECTIVE CANCER THERAPY
Venkata Sudheer Makam, Jason Teng Cang-Rong, Sia Lee Yoong and
Giorgia Pastorin
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science,
National University of Singapore, Singapore
phapg@nus.edu.sg
5.1 INTRODUCTION
Even though nucleic acids have been typically associated with genetic
information and with a fascinating helical structure as proposed by Watson
and Crick in 1953, their role has been exploited well beyond such preliminary
deinition. More precisely, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid
(RNA, which relays the information stored in DNA to synthesize proteins) not
only contain the genetic information that allows all modern living organisms
to function, grow and reproduce, but also have demonstrated to be involved
in several patho-physiological conditions in both developed and primitive
species.
All humans have unique gene sequences, and genetic tests can suggest
a predisposition to certain illnesses, such as breast cancer, cystic ibrosis or
liver diseases, thus providing better cure or even prevention. On the other
hand, the analysis of DNA could ascertain the authenticity of children born
from promiscuous couples, on the basis of the fact that the offspring inherits
part of the genomic information from both parents. As a consequence, and
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