Carbon-based nanomaterials in biomedicine and technology

Carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs), including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), fullerenes, and graphene (GN), have attracted significant attention due to their unique structural, electrical, mechanical, and biocompatible properties. Their high surface area, excellent biocompatibility, and tunable physicochemical characteristics enable a wide range of applications, particularly in biomedicine, electronics, energy storage, and optoelectronics. CNTs, with their tensile strength and electrical conductivity, have been extensively studied for tissue engineering, drug delivery, and supercapacitor electrode applications. Despite concerns over their biocompatibility and toxicity, surface functionalization has shown promise in improving their performance and safety. Similarly, fullerenes, owing to their closed-cage structures and high electron affinity, exhibit potent antioxidant and photodynamic therapy capabilities, making them suitable for cancer treatment and optoelectronic devices. GN's high surface area and charge mobility make it ideal for energy storage systems such as supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries, although its agglomeration tendency limits its practical use unless modified. This work provides a narrative synthesis of recent advancements and practical limitations, outlining future directions for biomedical and technological applications.