RAS question
With reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following: 1. They can be used as carriers for drug delivery. 2. They can be made into artificial blood capillaries. 3. They can be used in the preparation of body armour. Which of the above statements are correct?
Correct answer: (D) 1, 2, and 3.
Carbon nanotubes can be used as drug-delivery carriers, in artificial blood capillary or vessel applications, and in body armour materials.
Explanation
All three statements are correct because the question is testing the range of carbon nanotube applications, not a single medical use. PubMed Central, Tailored Carbon Nanotubes for Tissue Engineering Applications covers the biomedical side: functionalised carbon nanotubes have been explored for targeted drug or gene delivery, and as improved biocompatible materials for tissue scaffolding and blood-compatible cardiovascular applications. Statements 1 and 2 are therefore applications linked to drug transport and artificial blood-vessel or capillary use. Statement 3 follows from the same material logic, namely their extreme strength; in armour composites, multiwalled carbon nanotubes in composite panels improved energy absorption and ballistic performance.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) It omits Statement 2, although carbon nanotubes are used in blood-compatible cardiovascular and tissue-engineering applications.
- (B) It omits Statement 3, even though carbon nanotube use in armour materials follows from their strength and energy absorption.
- (C) It omits Statement 1, since functionalised carbon nanotubes can act as carriers for targeted drug or gene delivery.
Concept
This tests nanotechnology applications in the Science and Technology syllabus, especially how material properties translate into biomedical and defence uses. It recurs in RAS because carbon nanotubes connect basic nanomaterial properties with applied questions on health, industry, and security.