Carbon nanomaterials in controlled and targeted drug delivery

Carbon-based nanomaterials are the emerging novel class of materials and are obtaining numerous applications in biomedical fields along with drug delivery. At present, carbon nanomaterials include carbon nanotubes, carbon nanohorns, and graphenes, which have been used widely for the delivery of therapeutic molecules. To meet the necessity of controlled and targeted drug delivery, novel magnetic carbon nanomaterials have attracted interest due to applications in various areas that utilize the combined benefit of magnetic along with nanoscale properties. For catalysis, carbon capture, drug delivery, and cancer detection, these materials are appropriate. The precisely targeted hybrid carbon nanoparticles showed noncytotoxic as well as controlled intracellular release of the agents loaded. Carbon nanotubes are the most attracting material used in drug targeting and cancer treatment due to their nanometric size and high aspect ratio (distinct features). Carbon nanotubes are the fascinating candidates in research areas for different diseases and biological systems; for lymph node targeted delivery, drug loaded carbon nanoparticles act as a theragnostic carrier. The recent aspects of advancement in the use of various carbon nanomaterials are outlined in the present chapter.