Nanobiotechnology 113 5 Carbon nanotubes: A new biotechnological tool on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer Benjamín Pineda 1 , Norma Y. Hernández-Pedro 1 , Roxana Magaña Maldonado 1 , Verónica Pérez-De la Cruz 2 , Julio Sotelo 1 1 Neuroimmunology and Neuro-Oncology Unit, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía. 2 Neurochemistry Unit, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía. Outline: Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 114 Carbon nanotubes characteristics……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 115 Functionalization………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….116 Carbon nanotubes on diagnosis………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 120 Immunosensors…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 120 Carbon nanotubes acopled to quantum dots………………………………………………………………………………. 121 Nanotubes in cancer treatment……………………………………………………………………………………………….. Drugs released……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 123 Thermal treatment……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 124 Antibodies conjugated to nanoparticles……………………………………………………………………………………… 125 Immune response………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 126 Toxicity……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 126 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 127 References………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 127