Current treatments for cancer and the central nervous system diseases are limited, partly due to the difficulties posed by the insolubility, poor distribution of drugs among cells and lack of selectivity of drugs, the inability of drugs to cross cellular barriers and blood brain barrier (BBB). Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess many distinct properties including good electronic properties, remarkably penetrating capability on the cell membrane, high drug-loading and pH-dependent therapeutic unloading capacities, thermal properties, large surface area and easy modification with molecules, which render them as a suitable candidate to deliver drugs to cancer and brain. CNTs as a drug delivery could achieve a high efficacy, enhance specificity and diminish side effects. Whereas CNTs have been primarily employed in cancer treatment, a few studies have focused on the treatment and diagnosis of the central nervous system diseases using CNTs. Here, we review the current progress of in vitro and in vivo researches of CNTs-based drug delivery to cancer involving CNTs-based tumor-targeted drug delivery systems (DDS), photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). Meanwhile, we also review the current progress of in vitro and in vivo researches of CNTs-based drug delivery to brain.
Keywords: blood brain barrier; brain; cancer; carbon nanotubes; drug delivery.