US 8,788,033 B2 · Energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder and method of using same

Abstract

An energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder comprising a nanocapacitor connected to at least one carbon nanotube and method of using same are described. An adjustable amount of electric energy is stored within the nanocapacitor so that the energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder delivers either a biologically destructive or a biologically non-destructive electrical charge to target cells in response to biological, chemical or electrical stimuli. An optional biocompatible coating onto the outer surface of the carbon nanotube transponder improves cellular targeting, cellular binding or body tolerance towards the carbon nanotube transponder. Optionally, a molecular label attached to at least one carbon nanotube allows for in vivo tracking of the carbon nanotube transponder. The targeted release of electric energy from the carbon nanotube transponder can, for example, destroy cancer cells in cancer patients, or control the flux of electric wave within a cellular tissue to treat cardiac and/or epileptic patients.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder responsive to changes in a chemical concentration or electrical property of its environment, and wherein said energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder is up to 500 nanometers in diameter for delivering electrical energy to a cellular tissue, the energy-releasing nanotube transponder comprising:

(a) at least one carbon nanotube;
and
(b) a nanocapacitor connected to a first end of said at least one carbon nanotube, wherein said nanocapacitor is capable of storing a predetermined amount of electric energy in the form of a mean charge density in the range of between about 1.2×10-5 and about 2.4×10-5 Coulombs/cm2, and said at least one carbon nanotube being connected to said nanocapacitor acts as a nanoswitch for releasing said predetermined amount of electrical energy to said cellular tissue in response to a change in the environment of said energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder, and wherein a plurality of said energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponders is capable of releasing a biologically destructive electric charge in the range of between about 21 and about 30 microCoulombs/cm2 to said cellular tissue.

A method of using a plurality of energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponders to treat brain cancer in human and non-human patients by delivering a biologically destructive electric charge, the method comprising:

(a) identifying brain cancer cells responsible for cancer to be treated;
(b) determining a marker corresponding to said brain cancer cells;
(c) providing a biomolecule ligand specific to said marker;
(d) binding said biomolecule ligand selected from a group comprising IL-13 to at least one said carbon nanotube to form a nanosensor;
(e) connecting at least one said nanosensor to a nanocapacitor to form an energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder;
(f) providing a plurality of said energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponders;
(g) determining an optimum electric charge to be provided to each said nanocapacitor for said plurality of said energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponders to deliver a biologically destructive electric charge to said brain cancer cells in the range of between about 21 and about 30 microCoulombs/cm2;
(h) storing said optimum electric charge into each said nanocapacitor of said plurality of said energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponders;
(i) placing said plurality of said energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponders proximately to said brain cancer cells;
(j) automatically releasing said optimum electric charge from said nanocapacitor proximately to said brain cancer cells in response to an environmental stimulus comprising the binding of said biomolecule ligand onto its receptor located on the surface of said brain cancer cells and changes in an electrical property of the environment of said plurality of energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponders;
and
(k) assessing treatment efficacy with said plurality of energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponders.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder and method of using same

Life of this patent

Energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder and method of using same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22