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Carbon nanotubes as anti-bacterial agents

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Abstract

Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections that have evolved via natural selection have increased alarmingly at a global level. Thus, there is a strong need for the development of novel antibiotics for the treatment of these infections. Functionalized carbon nanotubes through their unique properties hold great promise in the fight against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. This new family of nanovectors for therapeutic delivery proved to be innovative and efficient for the transport and cellular translocation of therapeutic molecules. The current review examines the latest progress in the antibacterial activity of carbon nanotubes and their composites.

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Fig. 1

Reprinted with permission from [63]. Copyright 2011 American Chemical Society

Fig. 2

Reprinted with permission from [64]. Copyright 2010 American Chemical Society

Fig. 3

Reprinted with permission from [68]. Copyright 2009 American Chemical Society

Fig. 4

Reprinted with permission from [57]. Copyright 2013 American Chemical Society

Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Reprinted with permission from [56]. Copyright 2015 BioMed Central

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Abbreviations

MDR:

Multi-drug resistant

CNTs:

Carbon nanotubes

f-CNTs:

Functionalized carbon nanotubes

SWCNTs:

Single-walled carbon nanotubes

MWCNTs:

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, CNCS-UEFISCDI, project numbers PN-II-RU-TE-2014-4-2267; PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-1553; PN-III-P2-2.1-BG-2016-0446; PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2016-1742.

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  1. All authors have equally contributed to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nanomedicine, “Octavian Fodor” Gastroenterology Institute, 19-21 Croitorilor Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Teodora Mocan, Cristian T. Matea, Cosmin Puia, Claudiu Zdrehus, Cornel Iancu & Lucian Mocan

  2. Department of Physiology, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3-5 Clinicilor Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Teodora Mocan & Soimita Suciu

  3. 3rd Gastroenterology Department, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 19-21 Croitorilor Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Teodora Pop & Ofelia Mosteanu

  4. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3-5 Clinicilor Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Anca Dana Buzoianu

  5. 3rd Surgery Clinic, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 19-21 Croitorilor Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Cosmin Puia, Claudiu Zdrehus, Cornel Iancu & Lucian Mocan

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  1. Teodora Mocan
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  2. Cristian T. Matea
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  3. Teodora Pop
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Correspondence to Cornel Iancu or Lucian Mocan.

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Mocan, T., Matea, C.T., Pop, T. et al. Carbon nanotubes as anti-bacterial agents. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 74, 3467–3479 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-017-2532-y

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