Enhanced cell electro-permeabilisation combined with phototherapy to target-killing cancer cells by using multi functional carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been proposed and actively explored as multifunctional innovative carriers for drug delivery. This study presents a new modality for cell electro-permeabilisation based on the use of CNTs and external static electric fields to achieve highly drug delivery efficiency. Besides, CNTs are unique materials that absorb infrared (IR) radiation in the special spectral window where body tissues are most transparent. Absorbed IR promotes molecular oscillation leading to efficient heating of the surrounding environment. By using these characteristics of CNTs, we conjugated photosensitizers on chemically functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes (f-SWNTs) to combine photodynamic therapy and hyperthermia for killing cancer cells specifically and effectively. Thus, CNT complex drug delivery is promising for improving the efficacy of drug delivery and treatment to decrease side effects for future cancer therapy.