Abstract
We aimed to combine the nanoscale structure with bio-molecules to open the door for novel biology and nanotechnology applications. Multi-walled carbon nanotube MWCNT was combined with the biocompatible polymer chitosan producing the Cs/MWCNT nanocomposite and utilized as drug carrier for three types of anticancer drugs 5-fluorouracil, curcumin and water soluble curcumin derivative. The produced nanocomposite was with homogenous well defined structure that proved by TEM, FT-IR, XRD and TGA. The results of cytotoxicity assay measurement showed that the curcumin encapsulated Cs or Cs/MWCNT nanocomposite presented higher toxicity towards MCF-7 cancer cells compared to RPE1 normal cells indicating to the selective effectiveness of curcumin nanocomposite towards the destruction of the carcinogenic MCF-7 cells. Invitro release studies showed that Cs/MWCNT nanocomposite possess better slow controlled release performance than chitosan indicating that there is a strong association between the drug and CNTs which trigger the release of the drug for controlled drug release purposes.
Key words: MWCNTs/chitosan nanocomposite, controlled release, anticancer drug.
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