June 24, 2011 — SouthWest NanoTechnologies’ (SWeNT) single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) demonstrated absorption of indocyanine green (ICG) — a functional dye with unique photomechanical, photochemical, and photobiological properties — in recent research. The CNTs could contribute to future cancer therapies due to this property.
The ICG-SWNT complexes are sensitive to a broad spectrum of light, ultraviolet (UV) to near infrared (NIR), which may make it integral to new photothermal cancer therapies. According to the study, published in Journal of X-Ray Science and Technology, researchers in China showed that "an effective phototherapy is not limited to a single light source." Future photothermal therapies could be demonstrated in the visible light spectrum.
Photothermal therapies typically involve a laser with a single wavelength (808, 980, 1064 and 658nm) that, when coupled with nanoparticles, cause irreversible damage to tumors. "In previous experiments, the absorption of surfactants and dissolved SWNTs had an additive effect," said Xiaohui Zhen, lead author of the paper. "Our results show with increased concentrations of SWCNTs, typical absorption peaks of ICG monomer (at 700nm to 780nm) were decreased and typical absorption peak of SWNTs (at 1030nm) was increased."
The research is supported by the National Basic Research Program of China, the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
Access the study in the Journal of X–Ray Science and Technology, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/08953996
"Direct Imaging the Subcellular Localization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes," Biophotonics and Immune Responses, Xiaohui Zheng and Feifan Zhou, MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
SouthWest NanoTechnologies Inc. (SWeNT) is a specialty chemical company that manufactures high quality single-wall and specialty multi-wall (SMW) carbon nanotubes, printable inks and CNT-coated fabrics. For more information, visit www.swentnano.com