Phototherapy Using Nanomaterials
D. Sakthi Kumar, Aswathy Ravindran Girija in Bionanotechnology in Cancer, 2023
There are other nano constructs made up of thin sheets of benzene ring carbons rolled up into the shape of a seamless tubular structure, which belong to the family of fullerenes, known as CNTs [206]. They can be classified into single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) and multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) based on their structure. Molecules such as drugs, peptides, and nucleic acids can be incorporated into their walls and tips due to their ultra-high surface area. This enables them to cross the cell membrane by endocytosis or to identify cancer-specific receptors on the cell surface. SWNTs are capable of efficiently quenching fluorescence probes. A novel molecular complex of a photosensitizer (chlorin e6), an ssDNA aptamer, and SWNTs was constructed for regulating 1O2 generation [207]. The restoration of 1O2 generation was done by target binding with ssDNA aptamers to specific proteins, which could disturb the interaction between aptamers and SWNTs, thereby ensuring more selective PDT. Owing to their outstanding potential in molecular diagnosis and targeted therapy of tumors, many therapeutic agents can be incorporated into CNTs. A thorough understanding on the pharmacologic and toxicologic properties of CNTs is further required before recommending them for routine clinical use.
Photocatalytic Inactivation of Pathogenic Viruses Using Metal Oxide and Carbon-Based Nanoparticles
Devarajan Thangadurai, Saher Islam, Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji in Viral and Antiviral Nanomaterials, 2022
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a hollow cylindrical structure made of carbon. They are often synthesised by winding single layers or multiple layers of graphene sheets. Based on the number of layers wound, CNTs are classified into two categories: single-walled (SW) CNTs, which use single layers of graphene sheets, and multi-walled (MW) CNTs, which use more than one layer of graphene sheets. CNTs have the unique properties among other carbon nanoparticles to transport drugs or biomolecules to various types of targeted cells, such as cancer cells and T cells (Date and Destache 2013). Due to the conjugation and complexation of CNTs, it is possible to insert more than one type of functional group to the surface of CNTs. In theory, it is also possible to transport molecules through the internal cavity of CNTs (Bianco 2004). Pristine CNTs are known to be harmful to cell due to its properties of hydrophobicity and tendency to aggregate due to strong van der Waals force (Zhou et al. 2017). Methods have been studied to reduce the cytotoxicity by reducing the length of CNTs, such as introducing hydrophilic groups to the surface of CNTs to allow ease of transport through body and introducing structural defects to allow degradation by oxidative enzyme (Russier et al. 2011).
PEGylated Dendritic Nanoparticulate Carriers of Anti-Cancer Drugs
Mansoor M. Amiji in Nanotechnology for Cancer Therapy, 2006
Such nanoparticulate carriers also include PEG conjugated dendrimers. These are globular, hyperbranched polymers possessing a high concentration of surface functional groups and internal cavities. These unique features make them very useful in many biomedical applications, especially as carrier molecules. There are many such technological opportunities associated with the dendrimers. Starpharma-like companies used these dendrimers to build large active compounds that present a polyvalent array to receptors, and others platform opportunities for the delivery of small molecules as a toolbox for rational drug design and other nanotechnology applications in life sciences. There are many product opportunities in dendrimers and their use such as with VivaGel™, a topical microbicide gel for prevention of HIV and other STDs in women. They can act as novel chemotherapeutic agents, angiogenesis inhibitors, and they can be used for targeting a range of tropical and exotic diseases and as bio-defense agents in addition to their use for targeting a broad range of viral, respiratory, and cancer-like diseases in the future. Development of drug delivery systems with low toxicity and low cost is the key to a nanaotechnological approach to cancer treatment, including DNA-based concepts. Targeting the drugs to specific receptors exclusively expressed by tumor cells also appears to be an approach worth exploring. This biochemical approach is expected to pay rich dividends in the chemotherapy of cancer. Cytosol survival of anti-cancer agents and folate receptor-based approaches also hold promise. Carbon nanotubes offer yet another attractive possibility.
An evaluation of liposome-based diagnostics of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis
Published in Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics, 2020
Nikunj Tandel, Anish Z Joseph, Aishwarya Joshi, Priya Shrama, Ravi PN Mishra, Rajeev K. Tyagi, Prakash S Bisen
Nanotubes, nanobots, nanowires, and quantum dots are nanostructures besides nanoparticles that are coming into play in the area of molecular diagnostics [27]. Nanotubes are cylindrical carbon molecules generally measuring 0.5–3.0 nm in diameter, 20–1000 nm in length. Their peculiar attributes such as extraordinary strength and high conductance of electricity and thermal energy render high utility in the field of biomedical nanotechnology. Carbon nanotubes have been implicated in combination with other gold nanoparticles and silicon nanowires for the detection of oral cancer and lung cancer [28]. Nanocrystals, on the other hand, measure not more than 1 micron, at least by one dimension. The electrical and thermodynamic properties of these crystalline nanostructures vary with their size; however, nanocrystals falling in the range of 2 nm to 9.5 nm have been implicated in improving the solubility of certain drugs [29]. Nanowires are composed of carbon nanotubes or silicon. Antibodies that can be loaded over the surface can act as detectors. When the antibody binds to target biomolecules, specific conformational changes occur which can be recognized as signals. When several nanowires are loaded with different antibodies over the surface assembled in a single device, they can work as detectors for a disease, as used in cancer [28,30].
A short review on chemical properties, stability and nano-technological advances for curcumin delivery
Published in Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2020
A nanotube is a tubular structure made up of hexagonal carbon-based networks (1–100 nm length). These networks have the arrangement of graphite sheets that are rolled up into a cylindrical configuration [32–35]. Common configurations of carbon nanotubes are the single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs), multiple-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) and C60 fullerenes. Due to their attractive size, geometrical and surface properties, carbon nanotubes are remarkable drug carriers. SWNT and C60 fullerenes are of 1 to 2 nm diameter while MWNT have up to 10 nm diameter. Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes have shown a great potential in tissue-specific delivery of drugs either through endocytosis or direct membrane insertion. Several experiments showed that fullerenes exert antioxidant and antitumor activities [125].
Integration of inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer induced by carbon nanotubes
Published in Nanotoxicology, 2019
The past two decades have witnessed rapid growth and development in nanotechnology and the commercialization of products and devices containing engineered nanomaterials, which could help address global issues concerning energy, transportation, pollution, health, and food (Drexler 1992; NSF 2011). Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are new nanomaterials with potentials for a broad range of applications (De Volder et al. 2013; Zhang et al. 2013). CNTs, both single-walled and multi-walled CNTs (SWCNTs and MWCNTs, respectively), are made of one-atom-thick graphene sheets that roll into seamless cylinder-like structures. These nanotubes vary greatly in dimension and shape, but commonly exhibit certain unique properties that are of interest for industrial and commercial utility. These attributes indicate substantial mechanical strength, excellent electrical, optical, and thermal conducting capabilities, nano-scaled size, and large surface area, which are useful for products in the fields of electronics, energy production, construction, drug delivery, and health care. The annual productions of CNTs and CNT-containing materials and products have increased markedly in recent years (Abdalla et al. 2015; De Volder et al. 2013; Sharma et al. 2016; Zhang et al. 2013). As such, exposure to CNTs is expected to increase substantially in human populations, including workers producing CNTs and CNT-containing materials, and patients taking CNT-carried drugs or using CNT-containing medical devices (Fatkhutdinova et al. 2016; Schulte et al. 2012; Vlaanderen et al. 2017).
Related Knowledge Centers
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- Composite Material
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- Silicon