Medical applications of inorganic fullerene-like nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of layered compounds, like MoS2 and WS2, having hollow closed-cage structures and known as fullerene-like (IF) and inorganic nanotubes (INT), are synthesized in macroscopic amounts. They were found to have superior tribological properties and can serve as solid-state additives to different lubrication fluids. More recently, metallic films incorporating the IF nanoparticles were prepared via wet deposition methods and also by physical vapor deposition techniques. The incorporation of the nanoparticles endows such coatings self-lubricating behavior, i.e. low friction and wear, which is highly desirable for variety of applications. The current feature article provides a short overview of the progress in the materials synthesis of IF and INT phases. Subsequently, a progress report of the various efforts to apply such coatings to medical devices and drug delivery is described.