An overview of recent development in therapeutic drug carrier system using carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) provide a promising platform in therapeutic agent delivery system due to its unified and distinct physicochemical properties. On account of its immense potential, CNTs have been widely utilized as a proficient transport system of various therapeutic active agents, ranging from anti-infectives, anti-neoplastic agents, cardiovascular drugs to genes, and anti-inflammatory molecules. In the context of its large promise, this literature is devoted to understanding the biochemistry and functionalization of CNTs. Herein, we discuss comprehensively the characteristics of CNTs, including their mechanisms behavior, cellular uptake and drugloading capacity. Consequently, the literature has surveyed the current patents to highlight the recent application status of CNTs in the biomedical field. The potential application of CNTs as distinct therapeutic carrier in the drug delivery system, together with their toxicology/biosafety profiles, and the approaches to overcome the cytotoxicity of CNTs are also investigated with further perspective in this work.