Carbon Nanohorns as Effective Nanotherapeutics in Cancer Therapy
Manuela Curcio, Giuseppe Cirillo, Federica Saletta, Filip Michniewicz, Fiore Pasquale Nicoletta, Orazio Vittorio, Silke Hampel, Francesca Iemma
Abstract
Different carbon nanostructures have been explored as functional materials for the development of effective nanomaterials in cancer treatment applications. This review mainly aims to discuss the features, either strength or weakness, of carbon nanohorn (CNH), carbon conical horn-shaped nanostructures of sp2 carbon atoms. The interest for these materials arises from their ability to couple the clinically relevant properties of carbon nanomaterials as drug carriers with the negligible toxicity described in vivo. Here, we offer a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the use of CNH in cancer treatments, underlining the benefits of each functionalization route and approach, as well as the biological performances of either loaded and unloaded materials, while discussing the importance of delivery devices.