Tuesday, July 22, 2008

It's all about targeting

(WO/2008/082374) CARBON NANOTUBE NANOBOMB

WO 2008082374 20080710

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A composition comprising bundles of carbon nanotubes and a targeting molecule bound to said nanotubes.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said carbon nanotubes are single wall carbon nanotubes.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein said targeting molecule is an antibody.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition further comprises a therapeutic compound.

5. The composition of claim lwherein said therapeutic compound is a chemotherapy drug.

6. A method for killing or damaging cells comprising the steps of

(a) delivering carbon nanotubes to cells or a location near said cells, wherein said nanotubes are hydrated prior to or after delivery to said cells or location near said cells;

(b) exposing said carbon nanotubes to light of sufficient intensity and for a sufficient amount of time to cause explosion of said carbon nanotubes, whereby the explosion of said nanotubes exposes said cells to a lethal or damaging dose of heat thereby killing or damaging said cells.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said cells are mammalian cells.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said cells are cancer cells.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said cells are on the surface of the body of a mammal.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein said cells are inside the body of a mammal.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein said nanotubes are single wall carbon nanotubes.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein said nanotubes further comprise a targeting molecule.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said targeting molecule is an antibody.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said nanotubes further comprise a therapeutic compound.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said therapeutic compound is a chemotherapy drug.

16. The method of claim 6 wherein said light is near infra-red light.

17. The method of claim 7 wherein said mammalian cells are human cells.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein said cells are human cells.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein said cells are human cells.

WO/2008/082374

http://medicalphysicsweb.org/cws/article/industry/35088