résumé (Format PDF) - ED 406 - Université Pierre et Marie CURIE

Journées Bibliographiques de l’EDCM
Maurizio PRATO
Chemistry & Nanotechnology: Synthesis and Applications
of Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Trieste,
Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
e-mail: prato@units.it
Among the wide range of novel nanometer scale structures available, single-wall
carbon nanotubes (SWNT) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) stand as unique
materials for fundamental research and potential applications. However, manipulation and
processing of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been difficult because of their intractability and
insolubility in most common solvents. Considerable effort has therefore been devoted to the
chemical modification of CNTs, which might open the way to many useful applications.
Our group has been involved in the organic functionalization of various types of nanocarbons,
including carbon nanotubes, nanohorns, fullerenes and nanoonions. The organic
functionalization offers the great advantage of producing soluble and easy-to-handle CNTs.
As a consequence, since biocompatibility of CNT is expected to improve, many
functionalized carbon nanotubes may find useful applications in the field of nanomedicine.
Their use as drug delivery agents and scaffolds for vaccines has already been demonstrated.
CNT functionalized with bioactive moieties are particularly suited for targeted drug delivery.
In fact, not only they exhibit reduced toxicity but also possess a high propensity to cross cell
membranes.
Carbon nanotubes can act as active substrates for neuronal growth, a field that has given so
far very exciting results. Nanotubes are compatible with neurons, but especially they play a
very interesting role in interneuron communication. Improved synaptic plasticity is just one
example.
In addition, in combination with polyoxometalate catalysts, carbon nanotubes can serve as
wires for the splitting of water molecules to give oxygen, but, especially, molecular hydrogen,
ideal for clean energy generation.
During this talk, we will illustrate the latest advances in our laboratory of the most exciting
results in these fast developing fields.