Synthesis of Cl-Methylated Carbon Nanotube as a 5-FU Drug Carrier

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted a great deal of attention in biological applications, as a promising candidate for gene therapy, bio-sensing and drug delivery [1]. Their impressive characteristics such as high surface area, enhanced cellular uptake, enable to perforate cellular membrane and elimination the side effects make them ideal nanomaterial for drug delivery carrier [2]. In addition, the drug loading capacity of CNTs can be increased by functionalization with chemical groups, in particular halogen-substituted methyl radicals. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is currently in use for the treatment of colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma [3]. In this direction, we have carried out the experimental investigation on 5-FU loading ability of Cl-methylated carbon nanotube. The binding of CNT to 5-FU has been elucidated using FTIR analysis presented in the figure below. In this figure the FTIR spectrum of 5-FU-loaded functionalized CNT along with that of the pristine CNT and 5-FU, for comparison, are displayed. As can be seen, the pattern of 5-FU-loaded functionalized CNT shows carbonyl group, C-N stretching and bending peaks as well as disappearing C-Cl peak after reaction of 5-FU with Cl-methylated carbon nanotube in FTIR.