Fabrication and characterization of CdSe conjugated magnetic carbon nanotubes: A promise of targeted and visualized drug delivery

A novel cancer drug targeting carrier (CdSe@Fe3O4/CNTs) was prepared by using chitosan to encapsulate magnetic carbon nanotubes (Fe3O4/CNTs), and then combining Fe3O4/CNTs to CdSe with amidolink. In this system, chitosan was used as a bridge to link CdSe and magnetic CNTs, which improved the stability of the entirety; CdSe was linked up with chitosan using covalent bond steadily and kept a good fluorescence. A mechanism scheme was proposed to illustrate the formation process of the nanocomposites. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), vibration sample magnetometry (VSM) and fluorescence spectra. Results showed that the novel carrier has the potential to meet the specific needs in cancer in vivo imaging and targeted cancer therapy.