![]() ![]() Since carbon nanotubes can stimulate growth, gene and protein expression of aquaporin in tobacco cells it may also trigger the reproductive genes in similar other plants. Although, a rapid progress is made in the synthesis and use of carbon nanomaterial their mechanism of interaction with plant is not well understood because conflicting reports from various quarters have been received. If any genetic damage occurs due to forced injection of carbon nano material, it may cause mutation which may be transmitted to the next generation of the plant and, may have unwarranted influence in them. While they are known to be useful in (many cases) seed germination, root growth and photosynthesis there are many other aspects like uptake and rejection, accumulation and transportation and transmission of nanomaterial in the progeny. In the recent years, carbon nanomaterials are used in agriculture to increase the crop production (Table 1). Application of carbon nanomaterials in agriculture is the basic need of the hour because of increasing population and depleting resources. It is paradoxical and requires long time experiment before practically putting it to use in living system as a carrier. The cavity provided by hollow nanotubes allows large molecules like mellollocence, complex ions, fullerenes and DNA to be encapsulated and delivered to the target cells. Functionalized carbon nanotubes have been used in drug delivery. ![]() There are many factors which appear to be responsible for the toxicity of carbon nanotubes for instance, (a) hydrophobic nature of nanotubes (b) presence of catalyst and (c) presence of surfactants. The unfunctionalized raw MWCNTs have been demonstrated to be carcinogenic to mice while appropriately functionalized ones, did not show any apparent toxicity both in vitro and in vivo. The optical properties of semiconducting SWCNTs has also been explored in photoluminescent detection of protein and selective biomolecules. Carbon nanotubes have been proposed as scaffolding agent for antimicrobial silver nanoparticles. The antioxidant, antiviral and anti cancerous activity of fullerols, C 60(OH) 20 has been ascribed to suppressed accumulation of superoxide and hydroxyl radical-initiated lipid peroxidation and free radical scavenging.Ĭarbon nanotubes - field effect transistors have been shown for selective detection of oxidase, dehydrogenase activity and many other enzymes and biomolecules, although it has some limitation. Fullerenes and their derivatives are known to be powerful antioxidant in vivo (without much toxicity) and neuroprotecting agents. Ĭarbon nanomaterial and fullerenes have been used as conducting material, optical devices, quantum computer, removal of biological contaminants, molecular switch, tissue engineering, pharmacy and medicine or carrier in drug delivery system. ![]() Even though an icosahedrally symmetrical structure (nC60) is the most commonly encountered fullerene, both smaller fullerene such as C28 and C36 and very large spherical fullerene conformations have been identified and characterized. Fullerenes are cage-like structures comprising of twelve 5-member carbon and unspecified 6-member rings in defect-free form. CNTs length ranges from less than 100 nm to several cm, thereby bridging molecular and macroscopic scales. Diameters of SWCNTs and MWCNTs are typically between 0.8 to 2 nm and, 5 to 20 nm respectively, although MWCNTs diameters can exceed 100 nm. A wide variety of carbon-based nanomaterials such as fullerene, fullerene cages, single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been prepared. Although activated charcoal, an allotrope of carbon is generally used as decolorizing agent in metallurgical operation, the use of carbon nanomaterials has been recognised in the recent years. ‘Indian inks’ made from soot were used in the oldest Egyptian herioglyps on papyrus. Charcoal was used for water purification and adsorbent by ancient Hindus in India, and wood charcoal as an adsorbent and purifying agent by Egyptians and Sumerians as early as 3750 to 1500BC. History of carbon is difficult to trace although it is as old as human civilization. ![]()
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