Carbon nanotubes: properties, synthesis, purification, and medical applications

• Published in: Nanoscale research letters Vol. 9; no. 1; p. 393
• Main Authors: Eatemadi, Ali, Daraee, Hadis, Karimkhanloo, Hamzeh, Kouhi, Mohammad, Zarghami, Nosratollah, Akbarzadeh, Abolfazl, Abasi, Mozhgan, Hanifehpour, Younes, Joo, Sang Woo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer New York 13-08-2014; Springer
• Subjects: Chemistry and Materials Science; Materials Science; Molecular Medicine; Nano Review; Nanochemistry; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Carbon nanostructures; Drug delivery; Toxicity; Flexibility; Nanotubes
• ISSN: 1931-7573; 1556-276X; 1556-276X
• DOI: 10.1186/1556-276X-9-393

Current discoveries of different forms of carbon nanostructures have motivated research on their applications in various fields. They hold promise for applications in medicine, gene, and drug delivery areas. Many different production methods for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been introduced; functionalization, filling, doping, and chemical modification have been achieved, and characterization, separation, and manipulation of individual CNTs are now possible. Parameters such as structure, surface area, surface charge, size distribution, surface chemistry, and agglomeration state as well as purity of the samples have considerable impact on the reactivity of carbon nanotubes. Otherwise, the strength and flexibility of carbon nanotubes make them of potential use in controlling other nanoscale structures, which suggests they will have a significant role in nanotechnology engineering.