Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 3.2
An ideal example of multifuncionalised CNTs. See also Colour Insert.
CNTs interact with cells and are able to enter them through different
paths, including piercing the cellular membrane as needles. This mechanism
is energy-independent and is extremely useful to carry into cells molecules,
which have dificulty crossing cellular barriers. In exploiting this penetration
mechanism, no speciic recognition is needed. Recently, Strano
et al
. reported
CNT exocytosis,
15
while systemic distribution and elimination were reported
by Lacerda
et al
., demonstrating renal excretion of functionalised CNTs.
16
3.3 CARBON NANOTUBES AS DRUG VECTORS IN CANCER
TREATMENT
Doxorubicin (DOXO) is a chemotherapic drug that is widely used in clinic
for cancer treatment. Although very effective, it induces cardiomyopathy as
one of the most severe consequences of lack of selectivity and is subjected to
multi-drug resistance (MDR), i.e., the tumour is able to learn how to defend
itself against the drug. For these reasons it is very interesting to study the
delivery of DOXO through nanocarriers, and up to now, two works have been
reported in which CNTs have been used with this purpose. Ali-Boucetta
et al.
described the binding of the drug to copolymer-coated multi-walled carbon
nanotubes (MWCNTs), forming a supramolecular complex based on π-π
stacking. The cytotoxicity of this derivative has been tested
in vitro
on human
breast cancer cells, showing an increased mortality rate in comparison with
doxorubicin alone.
17
Liu
et al.
prepared water-soluble DOXO-CNT complexes using two different
kinds of CNTs. In one case, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were
supramolecularly functionalised by the phospholipid- poly(ethylene glycol)
Search WWH ::
Custom Search