Abstract: Compounds and methods are disclosed in which a prodrug can be delivered in an elevated oxidative state to cells by means of graphitic nanoparticles to which the prodrug is attached by a hydrophilic polymer and which have been made soluble by a hydrophilic polymer, such as PEG. The graphitic nanoparticle may be a single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT). The prodrug may be a DNA-binding metal-based drug. Exemplified is a platinum(IV) complex c,c,t-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2(OEt)(O2CCH2CH2CO2H)], which is nearly nontoxic to testicular cancer cells, but displays a significantly enhanced cytotoxicity profile when attached to the surface of amine-functionalized soluble SWNTs. An amine functionality on the hydrophilic polymer may be used to link the prodrug.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and materials including carbon nanotubes which have a strong Raman and/or fluorescent signal and which have been modified with an amphiphilic molecule having available functional linking groups for linking to a biological compound. Exemplified are surface-functionalized SWNTs (single walled nanotubes) as highly sensitive bio-labels based on the detection of their spectroscopic Raman signature. By solubilizing the nanotubes with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-containing phospholipids, aqueous-stable as well as biocompatible SWNT labels are produced. Specificity in biological detection is then attained by immobilizing reporting molecules off this PEG layer. Highly selective detection of surface immobilized proteins is achieved with detection limit of ˜10 femtomolar, three orders of magnitude higher than the fluorescent technique.