With reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements : 1. They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body. 2. They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of human body. 3. They can be used in biochemical sensors. 4. Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable. Which of the statements given above are correct ?
A
1 and 2 only
B
2, 3 and 4 only
C
1, 3 and 4 only
Correct answer
D
1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
Carbon nanotubes are being developed as carriers that deliver drugs and antigens to target cells, and their electrical properties make them useful in biochemical sensors, so statements 1 and 3 are correct. Studies have shown that enzymes such as myeloperoxidase, released by white blood cells, can break carbon nanotubes down, so they are considered biodegradable (statement 4). Building artificial blood capillaries from them is not an established application, so statement 2 is not counted. The answer is 1, 3 and 4 only.
NanotechnologyApplications of Carbon NanotubesCarbon nanotubesDrug carriersArtificial blood capillariesBiochemical sensorsBiodegradableTargeted drug delivery