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Carbon Nanotubes as A High-Performance Platform for Target Delivery of Anticancer Quinones

H V Grushevskaya1, N G Krylova1

  • 1Physics Department, Belarusian State University, 4 Nezavisimosti Ave., Minsk 220030, Belarus.

Current Pharmaceutical Design
|January 18, 2019
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Carbon nanotubes offer a promising platform for delivering anticancer quinones, enhancing drug efficacy and reducing toxicity. Functionalized nanotubes, particularly with DNA shells, show high potential for targeted cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Nanomedicine and Nanopharmacy
  • Materials Science
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality, with current treatments hampered by high systemic toxicity.
  • Developing effective drug delivery systems is crucial for improving cancer therapy outcomes.
  • Targeted drug delivery aims to increase therapeutic efficacy while minimizing side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review strategies for using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for targeted delivery of anticancer quinones.
  • To summarize mechanisms enhancing the effectiveness and multifunctionality of CNT-based quinone delivery.
  • To explore the potential of CNTs as a platform for novel cancer therapeutics.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on carbon nanotube functionalization for drug delivery.
  • Analysis of quinone adsorption mechanisms onto CNT surfaces.
  • Discussion of targeting strategies and design principles for CNT-based drug delivery systems.

Main Results:

  • Quinones, such as doxorubicin, exhibit high antitumor activity and can be effectively adsorbed onto CNTs.
  • Doxorubicin-CNT complexes demonstrate high loading efficiency and pH-dependent release in tumor microenvironments.
  • Functionalized CNTs, especially with DNA-based shells, enhance drug delivery and biological mimicry.

Conclusions:

  • Functionalized nanosystems based on CNTs represent a promising platform for quinone delivery, significantly improving cancer treatment.
  • DNA-based functionalization of CNTs offers superior affinity and biocompatibility for targeted drug delivery.
  • CNTs provide a versatile and effective strategy for developing advanced anticancer drug delivery systems.
Keywords:
Carbon nanotubesanticancer quinonescancerdoxorubicinedrug deliverymultifunctional platform.

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