Carbon nanotubes in hyperthermia therapy

Abstract

Thermal tumor ablation therapies are being developed with a variety of nanomaterials, including single-and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted interest due to their potential for simultaneous imaging and therapy. In this review, we highlight in vivo applications of carbon nanotube-mediated thermal therapy (CNMTT) and examine the rationale for use of this treatment in recurrent tumors or those resistant to conventional cancer therapies. Additionally, we discuss strategies to localize and enhance the cancer selectivity of this treatment and briefly examine issues relating the toxicity and long term fate of CNTs.

Nanoparticle design to induce tumor immunity and challenge the suppressive tumor microenvironment

“…In this way, NPs have been developed to deliver thermal energy due to their capacity for near infrared (NIR) light absorption (e.g. carbon nanotubes and gold nanoshells) [146,147] or magnetic properties [148]. A recent study by Ito et al demonstrated that application of local hyperthermia using melanoma-targeted magnetite NPs and an external alternating magnetic field resulted in a clonal expansion of T cells in B16 tumors [149].…”

Photodynamic Action of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

“…In the case of SWNTs, the utility of photothermal action was first demonstrated for cancer therapies. 14) Photothermal cancer therapy is rationalized by the fact that tumor tissues have a relatively poor blood supply compared with their normal counterparts, which makes tumor cells more susceptible than normal cells to heat in each tissue. 56) Basically, photothermal action on tissues results in the following three outcomes: hyperthermia, coagulation, and vaporization.…”

“…[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Various bioactive molecules, such as anticancer drugs and small interfering RNAs, can be bound to the surface of SWNTs and thereby delivered to, and even inside, target cells. A major motivation for the latter would be the ability of SWNTs to absorb near-infrared (NIR) light efficiently.…”

Photothermal Effect of PEG-Functionalized Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

“…Carbon nanotubes have the capability to efficiently convert Near Infrared (NIR) radiation into heat by photoexcitation of their quantized lattice vibrations (phonons), which is advantageous for the development of next generation photothermal agents for laser cancer treatment [9,[13][14][15][16][17]. Exposure to high temperatures for sufficient amount of time could cause permanent physical damage such as protein denaturation or membrane lysis [18].…”