R. Klingeler, S. Hampel, D. Haase, A. Leonhardt, I. Mönch, A. Vyalykh, B. Büchner

Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research IFW Dresden, P.O. 27 01 16, D-01171 Dresden

There is a fastly increasing interest in applying carbon nanotubes (CNT) in biomedicine since they can be filled with tailored material, there­by acting as chemically and me­chanically stable nano-containers. The carbon shells provide wear resistance and oxi­dation protection, can stabilize novel magnetic molecules and enhance the possibilities for exo­hedral (e.g. bio-) functionalisation of the nanoparticles. We report on a systematic approach to exploit the potential of filled CNT to act as magnetic nano-heaters, drug-carrier systems and sensors which allow a diagnostic and therapeutic usage on a cellu­lar level. We have studied the magnetic properties of indi­vidual, iron-filled multi-walled CNT which imply their potential for magnetic nano-heaters. Indeed, there is a substantial temperature increase of Fe-CNT treated muscle tissue under applied AC magnetic fields. Moreover, we successfully inserted fer­romagnetic CNT into cancer cells which shows their applicability for local in-situ-heating (hyperthermia). Filled CNT can also be used for diagnostic purposes since the nanocontainers can be filled with appropriate sensor materials. One example is their filling with CuI, which exhibits a strongly tem­perature dependent NMR signal so that nanoscaled contactless temperature sensors are realised. The potential for drug-delivery by CNT is demonstrated by inserting cy­tostatics into CNT