PEGylated carbon nanotubes: preparation, properties and applications

• DOI: 10.1039/c3ra40852c
• Publication Date: 2013-04-18T09:17:33Z
• Authors: Davide Ravelli; Daniele Merli; Eliana Quartarone; Antonella Profumo; Piercarlo Mustarelli; Maurizio Fagnoni
• Keywords: PEGylation

The application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in many different fields, e.g. materials chemistry or bio-nanomedicine, does require their surface derivatization to overcome the low solubility organic aqueous media. CNTs PEGylation, viz. attachment polyethylene glycol chains nanotubes, is rapidly emerging as a technique increase actual applications these (nano)materials. This review focuses on approaches available PEGylate CNTs, either covalently non-covalently, well most common techniques adopted characterize resulting materials. Finally, PEGylated fields (mainly drug delivery) are briefly reported.