Harnessing Carbon Nano-Architectonics for Advanced Prodrug Delivery

Carbon-based nanomaterials have arisen as potential candidates for medical applications due to their nanoscale dimensions, which allow for precise interactions with cellular structures. This compatibility is particularly beneficial for drug delivery, as these materials can target specific cells and tissues. Moreover, the unique optical properties of certain carbon nanostructures make them valuable tools for both diagnostic imaging and therapeutic interventions. Despite significant progress in nanotechnology, delivering anticancer drugs effectively to tumor cells still remains a major hurdle. One promising approach involves the development of nanostructures that encapsulate prodrugs—inactive compounds that are activated within the body. These prodrug-loaded nanoparticles offer several advantages, including increased absorption, high drug-carrying capacity, controlled release, and improved stability. This chapter summarizes the recent advancements in cancer therapies that utilize carbon nanomaterials in combination with prodrugs. The synthesis and characterization of these hybrid structures are included, further exploring current research efforts and addressing potential safety concerns associated with their use. Finally, we highlight the challenges and opportunities in this field and suggest future research directions.