Carbon Nanotubes &

Gopal Krishan
The Technological Institute of Textile
& Sciences, Bhiwani-127021
raju1376@yahoo.com
C. L. Mittal
ABES Engineering College, Noida
Cl_mitt@yahoo.com
Kapil Singal
The Technological Institute of Textile
& Sciences, Bhiwani-127021
singala.kapil@gmail.com
Hitesh
The Technological Institute of Textile
& Sciences, Bhiwani-127021
hiteshraheja89@gmail.com
Nanoparticles in Cancer
Therapy
Abstract- The field of nanotubes and nanoparticle is evolving at a
rapid pace, with many potential applications in electronics, optics,
and sensors, to name a few. This paper reviews the applications of
Carbon Nanotubes & Nanoparticles in Cancer Therapy. Carbon
nanotubes are unique nanostructures with remarkable electronic
and mechanical properties. Fullerene research has blossomed in
many different directions, and has attracted a great deal of attention
to Carbon Science. We have presented an overview of various
growth methods for multi-walled and single-walled carbon
nanotubes. Single-walled carbon nano-tubes (SWCNTs) have been
identified as a transporter for anticancer drugs.
Keywords: Cancer Therapy, CNT, Microscopy, Tumour, Nano-
particle,

1. INTRODUCTION cylinder capped at one or both ends by a bucky-

With more than 10 million new cases every
year, cancer is one of the most devastating diseases
[6]
. Though the current treatments of cancer by
surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are successful
in several cases, these curative methods also kill
healthy cells and cause toxicity to the patient [1], like
bone marrow suppression, gastric erosion, hair loss,
renal toxicity, cardiomyopathy, and several effects
on other systems [2].
It would therefore be desirable to develop
methods to directly target cancerous cells without
affecting normal ones [1]. Nanotechnology is being
applied extensively to provide targeted drug
therapy, diagnostics, tissue regeneration, cell
culture, biosensors and other tools in the field of
molecular biology. Various nanotechnology
platforms like CNT, fullerenes, quantum dots
liposomes, dendrimers and bucky-balls are being
developed [2].
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
CNT (Carbon Nano-tubes)
The first carbon nanotube was discovered in
1991 by scientist Sumio Iijima [3], are tubular
structures like a sheet of graphite rolled into a
ball[2]. A few years later in 1993, single walled
carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) were discovered by
Iijima’s group at NEC and Donald Bethune's group
at IBM's Almaden Research Center in California [3].
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are of particular interest
in a wide variety of applications due to their 1D
nature [7], and their versatile mechanical [8], [9], [10], [11]
and electronic properties [12]. CNTs are analogous to
a mono layered graphite sheet rolled into tubes of
diameter 1-10 nm, and hence form hollow tubules
of a single layer of carbon atoms, rendering them
highly sensitive to changes of their sidewall surface
properties [13], [4].
The potential use of SWCNTs & MWCNTs
is to treat several types of cancers, with minimal or
no toxic effects to normal cells [1]. Single Walled
Nanotube (SWCNT) has an internal diameter of 1-2
nm and multi walled nanotube has a diameter of 2-
25 nm with 0.36 nm distance between layers of
MWCNT. These vary in their length ranging from 1
μm to a few micrometers [14], [2].
As the sidewall of SWCNTs is highly
hydrophobic, they are practically insoluble in water.
Therefore, SWCNTs are functionalized by covalent
or non-covalent routes that will help in
disentangling the CNT bundles and make them
soluble in water. Liu et al. [15] prepared a solution of
SWCNTs wrapped in poly ethylene glycol (PEG)
with a tumour- targeting cyclic arginine–glycine–
aspartic acid peptide to the end of the PEG chains.
This solution was injected into mice bearing
tumours and it was observed that the targeted
SWCNTs accumulated in tumors [15], [1].
The above finding has prompted studies to
attach a cancer chemotherapy drug doxoyrubicin
(DOX) molecule onto pre-functionalized nanotubes,
possibly for in vivo cancer therapy [16], [1].
FULLERENES
Fullerenes, a carbon allotrope, also called as
“bucky balls” were discovered in 1985 [17]. The
Buckminster fullerene is the most common form of
fullerene measuring about 7 Å in diameter with 60
carbon atoms arranged in a shape known as
truncated icosahedrons [18]. It resembles a soccer ball
with 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons and is highly
symmetrical [19]. Fullerenes are being investigated
for drug transport of antiviral drugs, antibiotics and
anticancer agents [2].
Unlike other molecules that have
applications as cancer drug delivery vehicles,
fullerenes don't break down in the body and are
excreted intact. This trait can be important for some
cancer treatment compounds that are dangerous to
healthy cells [20].
Fig-1 Fullerenes
QUANTUM DOTS
Quantum dots are Nano crystals measuring
around 2-10 nm which can be made to fluorescence
when stimulated by light. It can also be used for
imaging of sentinel node in cancer patients for
tumour staging and planning of therapy [22]. This
method can be adopted for various malignancies
like melanoma, breast, lung and gastrointestinal
tumors [2].
Fig-2 Quantum Dots
LIPOSOMES
Liposomes discovered in mid 1960s were
the original models of Nano scaled drug delivery
devices. They are spherical nanoparticles made of
lipid bilayer membranes with an aqueous interior
but can be uni-lamellar with a single lamella of
membrane or multi-lamellar with multiple
membranes. Cancer chemotherapeutic drugs and
other toxic drugs like amphotericin and hamycin,
when used as liposomal drugs produce much better
efficacy and safety as compared to conventional
preparations. These liposomes can be loaded with
drugs either in the aqueous compartment or in the
lipid membrane [23], [2].
Fig-3 liposomes
During cancer treatment they encapsulate
drugs, shielding healthy cells from their toxicity,
and prevent their concentration in vulnerable tissues
such as those of a patient's kidneys and liver.
Liposomes can also reduce or eliminate certain cancer cells by hollow lipid spheres and used to
common side effects of cancer treatment such as induce cell death under visible light irradiation [20].
nausea and hair loss [5]. 3. Medical effects of CNT & other Nano-
particles
DENDRIMER
This fascinating particle holds significant Development of newer drug delivery
promise for cancer treatment. Its many branches systems based on nanotechnology methods is being
allow other molecules to easily attach to its surface. tried for conditions like cancer, diabetes, fungal
Researchers have fashioned dendrimers into infections, viral infections and in gene therapy. The
sophisticated anti-cancer machines carrying five main advantages of this modality of treatment are
chemical tools- a molecule designed to bind to targeting of the drug and enhanced safety profile.
cancer cells, a second that fluoresces upon locating Nanotechnology has also found its use in diagnostic
genetic mutations, a third to assist in imaging tumor medicine as contrast agents, fluorescent dyes and
shape using X-rays, a fourth carrying drugs released magnetic nanoparticles [2]. It is shown in Table-1.
on demand, and a fifth that would send a signal
when cancerous cells are finally dead. The creators Table-1 Carbon Nanoparticles Used For Medical
of these dendrimers have had successful tests with Application
cancer cells in culture and plan to try them in living
animals soon [5]. Product Descriptio Use
n
BUCKY-BALLS AuroLase™ Gold Nano Head and neck
shell cancer
“Bucky-ball” is the common name for a
INGN 401 Nanoparticle Lung cancer
molecule called Buckminsterfullerene, which is
formulation
made of 60 carbon atoms formed in the shape of a
of tumour
hollow ball. British scientist Harry Kroto
suppression
discovered it in 1985[24], [5].
gene
FUS1
Bucky-balls may see widespread use in
Abraxane® albumin bound Non-small cell
future products and applications, from drug-delivery
taxane lung cancer
vehicles for cancer therapy [25] as hollow success-
particles
bucky-balls for cancer treatment [5].
Doxil® Liposomal Ovarian tumour
doxorubicin
MRX 952 Nanoparticle Tumours
preparation –
to encapsulate
camptothecin
analogues
Targeted Nano TNT with Solid tumours
Therapeutics polymer coated
(TNT)™ iron oxide
system magnetic
particle
Cyclosert- β-Cylcodextrin Solid tumours
Camptothecin polymer
– IT 101 drug delivery
Fig-4 Hollow success – bucky-ball system

Trapping C60 Bucky-balls in lipid globes 4. Experimental Detail

could deliver improved cancer treatments, Atsushi
Ikeda and colleagues from the Nara Institute of
Science and Technology in Ikoma showed that the
carbon isotope C60 could be delivered into human
In 2004, Sirdeshmukh et al. used CM
(Confocal Microscopy) and TEM (Transmission
Electron Microscopy) with negative staining using
phosphotungstic acid to view fluorescently tagged
CNTs in monoclonal mouse IgG to cell surface
receptors in cancer cells [4].
In 2006, Gong, et al. used Scanning Electron
Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron
Microscopy (TEM) technologies and A Zeiss
DSM982 Gemini Field Emission Scanning Electron
Microscope (FESEM) with a Schottky electron
source used into the detection of protein cancer
biomarkers not only in serum but in cellular tissues
[29]
. nanotubes in the medical field. Many of these
In 2009, Heister, et al. used Scanning
Electron Microscopy (SEM), High Resolution
Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM),
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Raman
Spectroscopy, and Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis
(TGA) technologies in order to evaluate the purity
and physical - chemical properties of pristine and
oxidised Nanolab SWCNTs. These allows for the
attachment of a monoclonal antibody for targeting
purposes, an anti-cancer drug, and a fluorescent dye
at non-competing binding sites to enable
visualization of cellular uptake and also in the
second step of the coupling reaction, the anti-cancer
drug doxorubicin is non-covalently attached to the
sidewalls of oxidized carbon nanotubes via p-
stacking and hydrophilic interactions with
carboxylic groups [30].
In 2010, Zhu, et al. used Anti-Sense Oligo-
Deoxy-Nucleotides (ASODNs) to investigation in
many different fields such as cancer therapy,
cardiovascular disease, and infectious disease and
develops a novel and nontoxic vector based on the
functionalized carbon nanotube for cancer therapy
and intracellular locations [31].
5. Coat Carbon Nanotubes In Cancer
Treatment
SWCNTs do not only aid in chemotherapy
treatment, but in several other innovative cancer
treatments as well as Coat Carbon Nanotubes with
folate molecules and insert them into the cancer
patient’s body. The CNTs are coated with folate
molecules because cancerous cells, unlike healthy
ones, contain receptors for the vitamin folate. Thus
the carbon nanotubes will only enter the malignant
cells and not the healthy ones. Because of the folate
molecules, this process targets and kills only the
cancerous cells within the body, leaving the healthy
ones untouched and undamaged [27],[3].
Another treatment for killing cancerous cells
is very similar to the one discussed in the previous
paragraph. In this case, scientist Balaji
Panchapakesan, from the University of Delaware,
patented a process in which he uses exploding
carbon nanotubes to kill cancerous cells [28].
6. Research to Futuristic Approach
Over the past few years, breakthroughs have
been made pertaining to the use of carbon
advances have been specifically focusing on the use
of carbon nanotubes in cancer research. Scientists
have been trying to find ways to utilize the amazing
properties of carbon nanotubes to fight cancer and
to alleviate some of the side effects associated with
other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy [26].
7. At last the ray of light
It might have been found that Single-walled
carbon nanotubes have been proven safe and stable
to use in inserting and transporting drugs into the
body. Though very small, their properties allow
them to make a huge impact on the field of science.
If advances continue, single-walled carbon
nanotubes may just be the answer to a brighter
future for cancer and chemotherapy treatment [3].
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