Presently, the majority of cancer treatments are non-specific, leading to undesirable side effects from intense medications. This issue may be addressed through the revolutionary advancement of nanotechnology, which enables the control of materials at the nanoscale. By offering advantages such as customized drug delivery, minimized dose-associated side effects, and extended drug circulation times, nanotechnology has significantly impacted cancer therapy over recent decades. Due to their unique combination of superior optical, thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties, carbon-based nanoparticles are emerging as promising tools in cancer research. These nanoparticles also offer ease of modification and a large surface area, making them ideal for efficient drug delivery. These nanoplatforms can serve as carriers for multiple types of molecules, enabling targeted and controlled delivery of pharmaceuticals, nucleotides, and diagnostic agents. The synthesis techniques and functionalization approaches of carbon-based nanostructures, both covalently and noncovalently bound, will be explored in detail within this review. In addition, the properties of carbon nanostructures, their potential for delivering anticancer drugs and genetic material, as well as their antibacterial capabilities, will be analyzed. Lastly, the challenges associated with utilizing carbon nanostructures and future perspectives will be discussed.

Carbon-based nanostructure drug delivery systems and their biologic applications – a review
    Abstract
        Graphical abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Synthesis of carbon-based nanostructures
        2.1 The arc discharge method
        2.2 Laser ablation
        2.3 Chemical vapor deposition (CVD)
        2.4 Solvothermal and hydrothermal methods
        2.5 Electrochemical exfoliation
        2.6 Pyrolysis
        2.7 Flame synthesis
    3 Functionalization of carbon-based nanostructures and antibacterial application
        3.1 Fullerenes
        3.2 CNT
        3.3 Graphene
        3.4 Carbon dots
    4 Graphene and its anticancer application
        4.1 Graphene
        4.2 Graphdiyne
        4.3 Fullerene
        4.4 Carbon nanotubes
        4.5 Carbon quantum dots
    5 Gene delivery of carbon nanostructures
    6 Conclusions and future prospects
    Acknowledgements 
    References

• Hale Alvandi(Department of Nanobiotechnology and Biomimetics, School of Bioengineering, College of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran)
• Anahid Shafie(Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran)
• Fatemeh Najafi(Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802‑1503, USA)
• Mahdi Sabzini(Department of Biotechnology, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran)
• Mohammad Mashayekhi(Department of Biochemical and Bioenvironmental Research Center, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran)
• Sahand Hedayati Omami(School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
• Mohammad Mahdi Eskandarisani(Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA)
• Shamim Dashti(Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC), Robert‑Rössle‑Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Deutschland)
• Alireza Javanmard(Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802‑1503, USA)
• Mohammadreza Tajik(Biomedical Engineering Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA)
• Stefan Bräse(Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstrasse 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany)
• Ahmad Reza Farmani(Department of Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa 74615‑168, Iran) Corresponding author