Application of Artificial Cells Embedded With Carbon Nanotubes in Analysis and Treatment: A Mini Review

Artificial cells are widely used in targeted drug delivery and biosensing, but their functions are limited by the inefficient mass transfer of biological membranes. Embedding carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as artificial transmembrane channels in these cells can break through this "communication bottleneck". With the characteristics of nanofluids and atomically smooth inner walls, CNTs can significantly enhance the transmembrane transmission of ions, signal molecules, and drugs. This review systematically explores the design principles and functionalization strategies of CNTs embedded in artificial cells, with a focus on their applications in two core areas: In the therapeutic field, CNT-mediated membrane fusion enables efficient, non-endocytosis-dependent drug delivery; and in the analytical sensing realm, CNT channels enable ultra-sensitive detection of biomarkers, ions, and even single-molecule resolution of amino acid isomers. Finally, we outline the challenges and future directions for the transformation of the ArtifCell@CNTs platform into clinical diagnostic and therapeutic tools.