Carbon nano-onions (CNOs) are spherical, multi-layered carbon nanoparticles with exceptional stability and highly tunable surfaces. By functionalizing these nanostructures with targeting molecules and therapeutic agents, they can be directed selectively to cancer cells while minimizing side effects. In our lab, we have synthesized both CNOs and boron/nitrogen co-doped CNOs (BNCNOs), and we have demonstrated their efficient cellular uptake, strong biocompatibility in animal models, and improved delivery of chemotherapy drugs with reduced toxicity to healthy tissue. This seminar will show how nanomaterials originally investigated for their unique structures can be transformed into powerful tools for cancer therapy, underscoring opportunities at the intersection of nanotechnology and medicine.
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