Carbon nanotubes are carbon nanostructures with characteristic electrochemical and mechanical properties such as low density, high strength and rigidity, high heat conductivity, and electrical conductivity. The recent advancement in drug delivery and cancer treatment involves the utilization of nanocarriers, such as CNTs, solid lipid nano-capsules, magnetic nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, and liposomes to transport anticancer drugs, genes, and proteins for chemotherapy. These advanced nanomaterials also act as mediators for photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) to directly destroy cancer cells. Moreover, the electrical, optical, chemical, and mechanical properties of CNTs are employed in drug delivery systems, biomedical imaging, and antimicrobial technology. Therefore, CNT-based anticancer drug delivery technology is gaining popularity, especially due to its selective targeting and controlling of drug delivery.
According to the World Health Organization, cancer has been the leading cause of death worldwide, registering 9.6 million and 10 million deaths in 2018 and 2020, respectively. Therefore, several types of research focused on developing efficient cancer treatment processes have been conducted; however, optimum technology to reduce cancer-causing deaths has not been achieved. In the past few years, nanotechnology has emerged as an alternative treatment technology for several disorders, specifically cancer. Scientists have developed a novel technology to directly introduce the anticancer drug—doxorubicin—through CNTs from spherical sacs of phospholipid molecules (liposomes) via the cell plasma membrane. A report published by the US Department of Energy in 2022 revealed that CNTs merge liposomes and cancer cells together, initiating the merger of liposomal membranes and cancer cells. This fusion process allows the drug to pass freely from the liposome to the cell. This results in the effective delivery of doxorubicin, killing up to 90% of disordered cells. Thus, the adoption of CNTs in cancer treatment is giving rise to several key trends that will impact the carbon nanotube market growth over the coming years.
A few players operating in the carbon nanotubes market are Arkema SA; LG Chem Ltd; Cabot Corp; Kumho Petrochemical Co Ltd; Tokyo Chemical Industry Co Ltd; Nanoshel LLC; NanoLab Inc; Klean Industries Inc; Raymor Industries Inc; and Nanocyl SA.
