Biomedical Applications and Toxicological Aspects of Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes

Currently, nanomedicines exhibit implausible capability in overcoming the hurdles faced in gene therapy, cancer treatments, as well as other life-threatening diseases. Worldwide, the unique features of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are still being explored by researchers to tap their potential. Different types of CNTs exhibit capabilities in the transportation of vaccines, bioactives, and nucleic acids deep into the cell to previously unreachable targets. This review sheds light on the different aspects of biomedical applications and toxicities associated with functionalized CNTs. To better understand the biomedical scope of CNTs, more research into the toxicological behavior of CNTs as well as functionalized CNTs is needed. The exploration of appropriate cell lines to investigate specific receptors and intracellular targets as well as long-term toxicity beyond the proof-of-concept is needed. These issues facing the translation of surface-engineered CNT nanoarchitectures are vital to moving CNT applications from the laboratory to the clinic. The future of pharmaceutical as well as biomedical applications of CNTs will certainly depend upon whether we are able to prove their safety beyond doubt. And if we succeed through vigorous research efforts, then CNTs will have tremendous application as a freely available and economic biomaterial.