Carbon nanotubes (CNTs): properties, applications and toxicity

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising candidates for a wide range of applications that are expected to improve our lifestyles, such as alternative forms of energy production, energy storage, and drug delivery. At the same time, there are concerns about their possible adverse effects on human health, since there is evidence that exposure to CNTs induces toxic effects in experimental models. However, CNTs are not a single substance but a growing family of different materials possibly eliciting different biological responses. As a consequence, the hazards associated with the exposure of humans to the different forms of CNTs may be different. Understanding the structure-toxicity relationships would help towards the assessment of the risk related to these materials. Here, we present a snapshot of the current state-of-the art of CNT production, applications, and safety.