Non-covalent and reversible functionalization of carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been proposed and actively explored as multipurpose innovative nanoscaffolds for applications in fields such as material science, drug delivery and diagnostic applications. Their versatile physicochemical features are nonetheless limited by their scarce solubilization in both aqueous and organic solvents. In order to overcome this drawback CNTs can be easily non-covalently functionalized with different dispersants. In the present review we focus on the peculiar hydrophobic character of pristine CNTs that prevent them to easily disperse in organic solvents. We report some interesting examples of CNTs dispersants with the aim to highlight the essential features a molecule should possess in order to act as a good carbon nanotube dispersant both in water and in organic solvents. The review pinpoints also a few examples of dispersant design. The last section is devoted to the exploitation of the major quality of non-covalent functionalization that is its reversibility and the possibility to obtain stimuli-responsive precipitation or dispersion of CNTs.

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Application of Advanced Nanomaterials for Kidney Failure Treatment and Regeneration

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14112939 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (11) ◽

pp. 2939

Author(s):

Aziz Eftekhari ◽

Solmaz Maleki Dizaj ◽

Elham Ahmadian ◽

Agata Przekora ◽

Seyed Mahdi Hosseiniyan Khatibi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Material Science ◽

Human Life ◽

Renal Tissue ◽

Blood Purification ◽

Review Article ◽

Renal Diseases ◽

Drug Solubility ◽

Failure Treatment

The implementation of nanomedicine not only provides enhanced drug solubility and reduced off-target adverse effects, but also offers novel theranostic approaches in clinical practice. The increasing number of studies on the application of nanomaterials in kidney therapies has provided hope in a more efficient strategy for the treatment of renal diseases. The combination of biotechnology, material science and nanotechnology has rapidly gained momentum in the realm of therapeutic medicine. The establishment of the bedrock of this emerging field has been initiated and an exponential progress is observed which might significantly improve the quality of human life. In this context, several approaches based on nanomaterials have been applied in the treatment and regeneration of renal tissue. The presented review article in detail describes novel strategies for renal failure treatment with the use of various nanomaterials (including carbon nanotubes, nanofibrous membranes), mesenchymal stem cells-derived nanovesicles, and nanomaterial-based adsorbents and membranes that are used in wearable blood purification systems and synthetic kidneys.

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Non-covalent functionalization of carbon nanotubes with glycolipids: glyconanomaterials with specific lectin-affinity

Soft Matter ◽

10.1039/b817059b ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 5 (5) ◽

pp. 948 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Mohyeddin Assali ◽

Manuel Pernía Leal ◽

Inmaculada Fernández ◽

Rachid Baati ◽

Charles Mioskowski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Covalent Functionalization ◽

Lectin Affinity ◽

Functionalization Of Carbon Nanotubes

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Synthesis of a Poly(3-dodecylthiophene) Bearing Aniline Groups for the Covalent Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes

Reactions ◽

10.3390/reactions2040030 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 473-485

Author(s):

Felipe Wasem Klein ◽

Jean-Philippe Lamps ◽

Matthieu Paillet ◽

Pierre Petit ◽

Philippe J. Mésini

Keyword(s):

Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Polymer Chains ◽

Side Chain ◽

Covalent Functionalization ◽

One Step ◽

Diazonium Coupling ◽

Functionalization Of Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Walled Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Grafting Onto

The functionalization of carbon nanotubes by polymers necessitates two steps, first their modification by oxidizing them or by covalently attaching small compounds to them, then the growth of the polymer chains from these anchors or their grafting onto them. In order to better control the process and the rate of functionalization, we develop polymers able to covalently react with the carbon nanotubes by their side chains in one step. We describe the synthesis of a copolymer of dodecylthiophene and its analogue bearing an aniline group at the end of the dodecyl side chain. This copolymer can functionalize single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) non-covalently and disperse more SWNTs than its hexyl analogues. UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopies show that in these non-covalent hybrids, the polymer forms p-stacked aggregates on the SWNTs. The non-covalent hybrids can be transformed into covalent ones by diazonium coupling. In these covalent hybrids the polymer is no longer p-stacked. According to Raman spectroscopy, the conformation of the poly(3-hexylthiophene) backbone is more ordered in the non-covalent hybrids than in the covalent ones.

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