Current and Future Developments in Nanomaterials and Carbon Nanotubes

In this chapter, an attempt is made to introduce carbon nanotubes and the science used to investigate them. This field is progressing at an exponential rate, with a wide variety of research articles and book chapters appearing in the literature every year. Research in this direction is now meeting the industry standards and some promising devices are ready to enter into the market in near future. This chapter can be a great resource for anyone new to carbon nanotube research. It can also introduce the experienced researcher to subjects outside his or her area of study. This chapter can be useful to the undergraduates and post-graduate students who are interested to pursue science and a career in carbon nanomaterials research.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have received the attention of researchers for the past 25 years. It is one of the most investigative material in the history of Nanoscience and mainly responsible for current Nanotechnology boom. This chapter describes the various techniques of synthesis of CNTs such as arc discharge, laser ablation and chemical vapor deposition. Special techniques like use of liquid solution in arc discharge, lithographic techniques, solar, electrolysis and hydrothermal for CNTs synthesis are also included. The chapter also discusses the mechanism proposed for the development of carbon nanotubes in these methods and summarizes the removal of impurities from these synthesized CNTs by chemical, physical, and multi-steps purifications.

This chapter is focused on the unique electrical, optical, mechanical, thermal and vibrational properties of carbon nanotubes. Reader’s get an insight of how these unique properties of carbon nanotubes can be functional to various applications. Each of these properties are being emphasized with some basic definitions, equations, and references from published literatures. This chapter also discusses the property changes observed in CNTs due to their structural differences as in single walled and multiwalled CNTs.

The outstanding properties of CNTs have instigated incorporation of CNT as filler material in various metals and polymer material. The blend of carbon material with other metals/polymers is better known as carbon nanocomposites. Significant enhancement can be brought about in the already existing properties of metals and polymers by this process. This chapter discusses the methods for synthesis of such unique nanocomposite structures. The various aspects of how and where these structures can be applied with enhanced properties are also discussed with evidences from published literatures.

This chapter outlines the unique electrochemical properties of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) as a novel carbonaceous material. Methods of electrode preparation using CNTs to modify some commonly used electrodes and functionalization of CNTs have been considered and discussed in detail. Further, the prospective applications of CNTs in electrochemical sensors for the detection of micro-to macro-scale molecules highlighting the potential of the material in achieving ultra-sensitivity, specificity, faster response times, stability and reproducibility have been taken into consideration for the enrichment of reader’s knowledge.

Carbon nanotubes are one of the most commonly used nanomaterials in research field and consumer industries. They have attained popularity in biomedical applications pertaining to novel drug delivery carriers, as building blocks for tissue regeneration as well as probes for bio-imaging and bio-sensing. Both multi-walled and single walled CNTs have been employed for therapeutic activity for the treatment of several diseases such as cancer therapy, Neurodegenerative Diseases and Alzheimer Syndrome via multiple approaches. Potential application of CNTs as nano-carrier is their ability to translocate through cellular membranes, facilitate their use for the delivery of therapeutically active molecules resembling cell-penetrating peptides. This chapter highlights the importance of CNTs as a vehicle for delivering wide variety of payloads including drugs, small organic molecules, oligonucleotides, proteins, siRNA, vaccines and nutrients. We have focussed on demonstrating their synthesis and functionalization as important procedural steps for creating a smart and intelligent system for delivery.

Tissue Engineering is an interdisciplinary subject which deciphers to produce functional three-dimensional (3D) tissues combining scaffolds, cells and/or bioactive molecules. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have received the attention of researchers for the past 25 years. It is one of the most exploratory materials in the biomedical applications. This chapter describes the properties of CNT which helps in mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) of various tissue materials. The chapter also discusses the role of CNT based scaffold materials in regeneration of various tissues such as neurons, cartilage and muscles.

Development of molecular contrast agents for visible determination of biological structural and functional information is an on-going process in relation to ever widening field of imaging techniques. Optical probes highlighting biological subjects in whole or in components serve as tool for disease diagnosis and prognosis deterministic assays for rapid onset of therapeutics. These preserve the specimen and carry wealth of information in a non-destructive and non-invasive way. Various nanotechnological tools are inexplicably used as molecular probes paving the way for smart as well as theragnostic module of action. Carbon nanotubes are an important class of synthetic nanostructures owing to their exceptional properties and are being sought in almost all waking fields of applications. Multiwalled multilayred CNTs are seen as significant cargo encapsulating wide variety of molecules and biological entities. Single walled CNTs on the other hand behave as quasi one dimensional nanomaterials showing unique electronic and optical properties. their high end use in biomedical imaging stems from the fact that they absorb light in NIR having high biological transparency. Though raw SWCNTs are hydrophobic their suitable functionalization yields water dispersible, biocompatible entities while biomolecule attachment lends specificity to the target. The present chapter details approaches for imaging biological subjects in vitro and in vivo using intrinsic photophysical properties of SWCNTs entailing multitudes of components to meet the current scenario of multiplexed and multimodel imaging. A brief review is presented on optoelectronic properties of SWCNTs, their functionalization to meet the necessitating criteria for biological applications and various optical techniques using them as contrast agents.

Many researchers are fascinated by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as it is one of the most exploited and unique engineered nano-materials in biomedical application. Inspite fascinating properties, CNTs was also questioned for their biocompatibility. CNTs have remarkable properties such as small size, conductivity, mechanical strength and surface chemistry. Due to these properties, CNTs are exploited in biomedical applications therefore there is a need for the assessment of toxicity of CNTs. Researchers monitor the toxicity level of CNTS both in vitro and in vivo. Various tests are available to determine the cytotoxicity level of CNTs. This chapter describes the various aspects of toxicity related to CNTs.