Covalent Functionalization for Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube (f-MWCNT) -Folic Acid bound bioconjugate.

Abstract

In the current concept, covalently functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) as a bioconjugate to folic acid (FA); an essential, bioavailable water soluble B-complex vitamin which is usually expressed on the surfaces of most tumoral cells was used. This was rendered possible through the design of a bioreversible binding water-soluble and biocompatible functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs). The MWCNT was synthesized through the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). The MWCNTs were covalently functionalized with sulphuric and nitric acids (3:1) at Room Temperature (RT), 50 and 100°C to generate the phenol and carboxyl groups. Furthermore, aspartic acid at 230°C was used to generate the carboxyl f-MWCNTs groups. The CNTs and f-MWCNTs were both characterized with the aid of a Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The results showed a decreased in mol ratio (COOH/OH) of the f-CNTs from 80 to 20 nm as the temperature increases from RT to 100°C. The f-CNTs carboxyl were attached to 3-(N, N-dimethylamino) propylamine (DMP) and FA through 2-(1H-benzotrial-1-yl)-1, 1,3,3-tetramethylurium hexafluorophosphate (HBTU) to generate f-CNTs-FA conjugates. The results of the high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (H1NMR) and infrared (IR) spectra showed CONH peak shifts bond bioreversible conjugation of FA at 94 and 101.3% and sizes 50 and 170 nm, respectively. The f-MWNT-FA moieties thereby have a greater versatility and can be used for the treatment and restoration of neoplasma cells.