Biofunctionalization of Carbon Nanostructures

Carbon nanostructures, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, fullerenes, and carbon dots, have garnered significant attention in nanotechnology due to their unique physicochemical properties. However, their intrinsic hydrophobicity and potential cytotoxicity have limited their applicability in various biomedical applications. Biofunctionalization strategies have been developed to overcome these challenges and exploit their immense potential to enhance their biocompatibility and bioactivity. This book chapter presents an overview of the biofunctionalization approaches employed to modify carbon nanostructures, focusing on CNTs graphene, fullerenes, and carbon dots. First, carbon nanostructures are discussed, second, surface biofunctionalization, including covalent functionalization, and noncovalent functionalization, such as DNA and proteins. These strategies improve carbon nanostructure dispersion stability, solubility, and biocompatibility, making them compatible with biological systems. Furthermore, the challenges in the biofunctionalization of carbon nanostructures and future perspectives are further highlighted. Additionally, studies investigating biofunctionalized carbon nanostructures are summarized. It is emphasized that proper biofunctionalization can minimize adverse effects and promote cellular interactions, making carbon nanostructures attractive candidates for applications in gene delivery, tissue engineering, and biosensing. Developing efficient and reliable biofunctionalization strategies enables the designing and fabricating of tailored carbon nanomaterials with improved biocompatibility, bioactivity, and functionality, opening up exciting opportunities for various biomedical applications.