Compositions and methods for cancer treatment using targeted carbon nanotubes

A method of treating a cancer tumor or cancer cells in a subject in need of such therapy, the method comprising the steps of:

• administering to the subject a composition comprising a protein-carbon nanotube complex, the protein-carbon nanotube complex comprising a protein or peptide operatively attached to a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT), wherein the SWNT is semiconducting and nonmetallic and wherein the protein or peptide of the protein-carbon nanotube complex comprises a binding protein or peptide that specifically binds to an external receptor or binding site on a tumor vasculature endothelial cell or on a cancer cell whereby the protein-carbon nanotube complex preferentially binds to the external receptor or binding site on an outer surface of the tumor vasculature endothelial cell or on an outer surface of the cancer cell in the subject;
• and
• exposing the subject to electromagnetic radiation comprising a wavelength absorbable by the SWNT, thereby causing elevation of the temperature of the SWNT of the protein-carbon nanotube complex to a temperature which induces damage to and/or death of the tumor vasculature endothelial cell or cancer cell to which the protein-carbon nanotube complex is bound.