Carbon nanotubes as fluorescent detection devices

Researchers at Cambridge University have discovered a method of developing fluorescent carbon nanotubes, which may someday be applicable to medical imaging. The molecule anti-IgG-Cy5 is covalently attached to the nanotube (which is composed of a single layer of carbon atom s held by sp² bonds). These carbon nanotubes are stronger, more durable, and longer lasting than current protein fluorescent imaging molecules in use today. The attachment of a fluorescent molecule to carbon nanotubes, which have the ability to be mass produced, could revolutionize the medical imaging industry. Researchers are still developing methods to attach specific antibodies to the nanotubes so that they can bind to biomolecules and target them for detection. When this is accomplished, these fluorescent tubes could be specialized to detect anything from cancers to specific protein production. With a more durable detector of biological targets, new methods of diagnostics can be developed, one of the most exciting prospects being the ability of nanotubes to hold intense heat, which could be used to destroy adjacent cancer cells while acting as a fluorescent detector for easy location of the tube itself and the cancer cells it attaches to.

This article interested me because my device design group incorporated another aspect of carbon nanotubes into our design. The diverse applications of these recently discovered nanomaterials are promising in many fields of biomedicine, and this application of the nanotubes was a very interesting addition to the multiple uses I have already researched.

Sources: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6THY-4PC3S7B-3&_user=952835&_coverDate=01/30/2008&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1562637672&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000049198&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=952835&md5=1c9d09218eafc76286c234099b01f0d6&searchtype=a,

http://www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=4235