UPSC Prelims 2020 Question:

With reference to carbon nanotubes

consider the following statements: 

1. They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body. 
2. They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of human body.
3. They can be used in biochemical sensors. 
4. Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable.
   
   

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Explanation:

• Carbon nanotubes are cylinder-shaped allotropic forms of carbon, most widely produced under chemical vapour deposition. They possess astounding chemical, electronic, mechanical, and optical properties.
  
  
• Carbon nanotubes can be transformed into biosensing and biocompatible drug-delivery systems (including antigens), for specific targeting and elimination of tumour cells. So, statement 1 is correct.
  
  
• When blood comes into contact with foreign surfaces, the platelets in bloods get activated which in turn leads to blood clots being formed. This can be catastrophic in clinical settings. Scientists have found that the carbon nanotubes can stimulate blood platelet activation, subsequently leading to serious and devastating blood clotting. So, statement 2 is not correct.
  
  
• Low-cost microchips are particularly desired for health monitoring and biomarker detection in NASA’s space exploration. NASA has demonstrated the development of biochemical sensors using carbon nanotube arrays. These are called ‘Ultrasensitive Label-Free Electronic Biochips’. So, statement 3 is correct.
  
  

• A variety of experimental and molecular simulation technologies have been used to jointly explore the biodegradation of Carbon Nanotubes. Multiple types of microbes including bacteria and fungi have the ability to degrade Carbon Nanotubes, graphene (GRA), and their derivatives. So, statement 4 is correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: Science & Technology | Nanotechnology