Advanced Carbon-based Nanoplatforms Combining Drug Delivery and Thermal Therapy for Cancer Treatment

Anticancer treatment has become a research highlight in recent years. Despite several techniques have been developed and applied in the clinic, this area still meets great challenges in the construction of smart anticancer devices with accurate targeting, controlled release and microenvironment response properties. Most of the carbon-based materials are biocompatible, possessing abundant and tunable pore structures and particularly large surface areas. These properties make them suitable materials as drug carriers. In addition, some carbon-based materials are capable of absorbing near-infrared radiation (NIR) and have highly efficient photothermal effects. The generated heat in situ can be used to kill cancer cells in short time on the position. This review describes the recent and significant application of four kinds of carbon materials including carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon dots and mesoporous carbon for drug delivery and photothermal therapy. After a short introduction of the structures and properties of these materials, the construction and application of these nanoplatforms in drug delivery, photothermal therapy or their combination will be summarized and discussed in depth. In addition, other carbon allotropes as drug carriers will be introduced briefly. Finally, the risk assessments and the perspectives and challenges of these materials used in cancer therapies are enclosed.