Carbon Nanotubes and Fullerene C60 Bioconjugates

This chapter focuses on the progress made to date on the study of fullerene (buckminsterfullerene C 60 and carbon nanotubes (CNTs)) bioconjugates for biological and biomedical applications. The types of bioconjugates discussed include those made from proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. The chapter explores their potential uses as bioactive molecules, drug carriers, biosensors, and imaging agents. A brief description of each of these nanomaterials is given in order to explain the structures and properties that form the basis for the substantial interest in their application in the understanding of biological systems, as well as the detection and treatment of diseases. The chapter discusses the latest achievement in the production of CNT‐ and C 60 ‐bioconjugates. It focuses on the types of bioconjugates that include: single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT), and buckminsterfullerene C 60 ‐based). The methods used in their synthesis, and the applications that they have been targeted to are also discussed.