Rapid microwave synthesis of chitosan modified carbon nanotube composites.

Chitosan modified multi-walled carbon nanotube composites were synthesized under microwave irradiation. The resultant chitosan modified multi-walled carbon nanotube composites were purified by twice adjusting of pH value of the solution and centrifugating in succession. The surface functional groups of chitosan modified multi-walled carbon nanotube composites are confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopic images further show the morphologic changes of the carbon nanotubes. Thermal gravimetric analysis shows that the chitosan content in the chitosan modified multi-walled carbon nanotube composites is much higher than conventional methods. The whole reaction procedure can be completed in 1 h under microwave irradiation.

[Progress in the research of carbon nanotubes as drug carriers].

Research and development of new drug carriers are crucial to the research of drugs. Due to their unique hollow structure and nano-diameter, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be used as drug carriers. Functionalization of CNTs with peptides, proteins, nucleic acids or even drug molecules, the so obtained functionalized CNTs can be used as carriers to deliver bioactive molecules into cells without causing any toxicity. The research progress of CNTs as drug carriers in recent years is summarized, and the CNTs' cytotoxicity and their ability to penetrate cells are discussed, and the methods of functionalizing carbon nanotubes are also mentioned in the paper. Along with the advancement of CNTs in drug carriers system, the relationship between the way to functionalize CNTs and the so obtained modified CNTs' ability to penetrate into cells, including the effect of dimension, should be further studied. Preparation of functionalized CNTs with high solubility and low toxicity as drug carriers will be the main research areas in the near future.