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Promises, facts and challenges for carbon nanotubes in imaging and therapeutics

Nature Nanotechnology volume 4, pages 627–633 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

The use of carbon nanotubes in medicine is now at the crossroads between a proof-of-principle concept and an established preclinical candidate for a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Progress towards clinical trials will depend on the outcomes of efficacy and toxicology studies, which will provide the necessary risk-to-benefit assessments for carbon-nanotube-based materials. Here we focus on carbon nanotubes that have been studied in preclinical animal models, and draw attention to the promises, facts and challenges of these materials as they transition from research to the clinical phase. We address common questions regarding the use of carbon nanotubes in disease imaging and therapy, and highlight the opportunities and challenges ahead.

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Figure 1: Types of carbon nanotube studied in vivo for imaging and therapy.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the University of Trieste, INSTM, Italian Ministry of Education MUR (cofin Prot. 2006034372 and Firb RBIN04HC3S), Regione Friuli Venezia-Giulia, CNRS and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (grant ANR-05-JCJC-0031-01). Partial support is also acknowledged from the European Union FP7 ANTICARB (HEALTH-2007-201587) research programme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanomedicine Laboratory, Centre for Drug Delivery Research, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, WC1N 1AX, UK

    K. Kostarelos

  2. CNRS, Immunologie et Chimie Thérapeutiques, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire UPR9021, Strasbourg, 67084, France

    A. Bianco

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche,Università di Trieste, Trieste, 34127, Italy

    M. Prato

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  1. K. Kostarelos
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  2. A. Bianco
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  3. M. Prato
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Correspondence to K. Kostarelos, A. Bianco or M. Prato.

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Kostarelos, K., Bianco, A. & Prato, M. Promises, facts and challenges for carbon nanotubes in imaging and therapeutics. Nature Nanotech 4, 627–633 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2009.241

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