Nanotubes in biological applications

• CNTs may be used as delivery vehicles or heat sources for treating cancer.
• CNTs may continue to find applications in life sciences and medical diagnosis.
• CNTs are increasingly being used as scaffolds for tissue engineering.
• CNT–enzyme conjugates are being used to develop antimicrobial surfaces.

Researchers over the last few years have recognized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as promising materials for a number of biological applications. CNTs are increasingly being explored as potent drug carriers for cancer treatment, for biosensing, and as scaffolds for stem cell culture. Moreover, the integration of CNTs with proteins has led to the development of functional nanocomposites with antimicrobial properties. This review aims at understanding the critical role of CNTs in biological applications with a particular emphasis on more recent studies.

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