Pharmacology of carbon nanotubes: toxicokinetics, excretion and tissue accumulation

Hanene Ali-Boucetta; Kostas Kostarelos

doi:10.1016/j.addr.2013.10.004

Pharmacology of carbon nanotubes: toxicokinetics, excretion and tissue accumulation

Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2013 Dec;65(15):2111-9. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2013.10.004. Epub 2013 Oct 31.

Authors

Hanene Ali-Boucetta¹, Kostas Kostarelos

Affiliation

¹ Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.

PMID: 24184372
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2013.10.004

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are increasingly being investigated for their use in biomedical applications and nanomedicine. An emergent need for the understanding of their in vivo biodistribution and pharmacokinetics is therefore needed to establish the essential properties and criteria for their further development as targeted CNT delivery systems to specific tissues for diagnostics and therapeutic purposes. Until their biodistribution and toxicoketic profiles are fully understood, their translation into the clinic will be hindered. This review will highlight the important factors affecting the biodistribution and pharmacokinetic profile of CNT and address their toxicokinetics following systemic, pulmonary and dermal exposure.

Keywords: Biodistribution; CNT; Carbon nanotubes; Functionalisation; Nanotoxicology; Toxicokinetics.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Humans
Lung / metabolism
Nanomedicine / methods*
Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
Nanotubes, Carbon / toxicity
Pharmacokinetics*
Skin / metabolism
Tissue Distribution

Substances

Nanotubes, Carbon