Critical Reviews™ in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems

 download article 169-206 pages

Challenges in the Use of Carbon Nanotubes for Biomedical Applications

Neelesh Kumar Mehra
Pharmaceutics Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar-470003, India

Amit Kumar Jain
Pharmaceutics Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar-470003, India

Neeraj Lodhi
Pharmaceutics Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar-470003, India

Rakesh Raj
Pharmaceutics Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar-470003, India

Vaibhav Dubey
Pharmaceutics Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar-470003, India

Dinesh Mishra
Pharmaceutics Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar-470003, India

Manoj Nahar
Pharmaceutics Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.), 470003, India

Narendra Kumar Jain
Pharmaceutics Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.), 470003, India

ABSTRACT

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered for use in numerous technological applications, including as biocompatible modules for the delivery of bioactives. However, there are unique properties of CNTs that limit their use as vehicles for various purposes. This review highlights the various challenges to a pharmaceutical scientist while exploring CNTs as bioactive delivery vehicles. The lack of solubility, nonbiodegradability, circulation half-life of 3−3.5 hours, biocompatibility, and immunogenicity limitations of CNTs are discussed in this review. These limitations indicate the need for modifications in order to explore the feasibility of CNTs as delivery vehicles.