A feasible way to use carbon nanotubes to deliver drug molecules: transdermal application.

INTRODUCTION: Nanotechnology has gained increasing importance in the pharmaceutical and medical fields, beyond its importance in physics and technology. Targeting of the drug or active molecules can be achieved rather easily with some nanocarriers because of their unique properties; to program or control of delivery can also be possible. One of the smart nanosystems is carbon nanotubes (CNTs) because they are elecroconductive and they have very big surface area to deliver active molecules. There have been many drug delivery systems proposed to the scientific world using CNTs. One administration way which appears to be the most appropriate for drug delivery is transdermal application. AREAS COVERED: Performed experiments and proposed techniques with the use of CNTs are scrutinized and discussed in this review. EXPERT OPINION: In the light of current knowledge, a feasible way to use CNTs to deliver drug molecules is transdermally.