Effect of functional groups at hole edges on cisplatin release from inside single-wall carbon nanohorns

We incorporated cisplatin inside single-wall carbon nanohorns (NHs) and revealed that 70% of the cisplatin was released from NHs having holes with hydrogen-terminated edges when they were immersed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). However, only 15% was released from NHs having holes with oxygen-containing functional groups at the hole edges (NHox). Elemental analysis indicated that -COOH and -OH groups at the hole edges of NHox changed mainly to -COONa and -ONa groups by immersion in PBS. These groups decreased the practical hole diameters, which resulted in hindering the cisplatin release from NHox. This means that the release of the material from inside NHox would be controlled by chemically modifying the functional groups attached to the hole edges of NHox; thus the potential applicability of NHox to a material carrier would be enhanced.