Tatiana da Ros - Böcker

Fullerenes and nanotubes are two classes of carbon structures or allotropes, which were discovered about 17 years ago. Since that time, many chemical derivatives have been synthesized using fullerenes and nanotubes as building blocks.Particularly promising was the theory that the chemical properties of fullerenes, and certain derivatives, made them likely candidates for anticancer drugs, inhibitors of viruses such as HIV, or even as anti-bacterials. Their cyctotoxicity can also be controlled by specific circumstances.In addition, the funtionalization of nanotubes has not only produced relatively simple derivatives, but also complex hybrids with biological macromolecules, which show unique supramolecular architecture and which are promising in many medical applications.The application of fullerenes and nanotubes in medicine is at the frontier of our knowledge, thus the work in this field represents the basis for future novel developments.

Carbon nanostructures, namely fullerenes, single and multiwall carbon nanotubes, graphene as well as the most recent graphene quantum dots and carbon nanodots, have experienced a tremendous progress along the last two decades in terms of the knowledge acquired on their chemical and physical properties. These insights have enabled their increasing use in biomedical applications, from scaffolds to devices.Edited by renowned experts in the subject, this book collects and delineates the most notable advances within the growing field surrounding carbon nanostructures for biomedical purposes. Exploration ranges from fundamentals around classifications to toxicity, biocompatibility and the immune response. Modified nanocarbon-based materials and emergent classes, such as carbon dots and nanohorns are discussed, with chapters devoted from carriers for drug delivery and inhibitors of emergent viruses infection, to applications across imaging, biosensors, tissue scaffolding and biotechnology. The book will provide a valuable reference resource and will extensively benefit researchers and professionals working across the fields of chemistry, materials science, and biomedical and chemical engineering.