NANOTECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS OF CARBON NANOTUBES MODIFIED WITH CATIONIC CYCLODEXTRINS

Surface functionalization of carbon-based materials (i.e. pristine graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, few layers of graphene, etc), by functional compounds, such as biomolecules, drugs, metal nanoparticles, and polymers is extensively investigated to gain access to high performing nanohybrid systems in area ranging from chemistry, electronics, energy, remediation to nanomedicine [1-3]. In particular, the chemical functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with cyclodextrins (CDs) by covalent and/or not covalent approaches give rise to new nanohybrid systems endowed with unique properties, due to the synergic actions of the starting components [4]. Specifically, CD units increase the biocompatibility and colloidal stability of CNTs and provide hydrophobic and hydrophilic recognition sites, while CNTs provide large surface area, and unique chemical, electric, optical and mechanical properties. In the last years, our research interest was focused on the synthesis, characterization and biological profile of CD-functionalized CNTs [4]. Herein, we present new CNTs engineered with cationic CDs (CD-CNT, Fig. 1). The structure, morphology and chemical composition of novel CDCNT hybrid system were investigated by micro-Raman, X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopies, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).