Carbon nanotubes have been discovered to be an efficient drug delivery system to cancer cells. Nanotechnology is the branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometres, especially the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules. Nanotechnology has positively impacted many fields of medicine including the treatment of cancer. Cancer is a disease caused by uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body. There are several current treatments for cancer such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. Although, each of these treatments have negative effects as they are painful, kill healthy cells and produce unwanted side effects. This was until carbon nanotubes were discovered. The structure of carbon nanotubes will be discussed as will nanotubes be compared at macroscale to nanoscale. The advantages and disadvantages of carbon nanotubes will be compared. Finally, reasons why carbon nanotubes are most beneficial at treating cancer will be analysed. Carbon nanotubes are an allotrope of carbon. Carbon is a chemical element with symbol ‘C’ and atomic number 6. It has 2,4 electrons per shell and its configuration is [He] 2s22p2 . The structure of carbon nanotubes are an important aspect of their contribution to delivery of cancer …show more content…
They have a high capacity when is comes to loading the drug. “Each of the 100-nanometer-long nanotubes carried about 150 drug molecules in total.” (technologyreview.com, 2016) Most side effects of cancer form due to toxicity coming from the excessive dosages of treatment the body receives. Carbon nanotubes induce a burst release of the treatment which significantly reduces the amount of anticancer drugs required compared to the conventional drug dose. As carbon nanotubes target the cancerous cells, they are able to deliver drugs at smaller