One-dimensional inorganic nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are of intense scientific and technological interest due to their excellent physiochemical properties and potential applications. Because of strong van der Waals interactions and hydrophobic effects between sidewalls of the nanotubes, pristine nanotubes generally form bundled structures. This makes inorganic nanotubes difficult to incorpo- rate into materials where individual nanotubes are required without damaging their properties. Inspired by recent suc- cessful isolation followed by functionalization of CNTs through various methods, dispersion of BNNTs towards appli- cations has been developed via covalent and noncovalent approaches. Especially, wrapping of BNNTs by water-soluble synthetic polymers and biomolecules through weak interactions resulted in well dispersed BNNTs in aqueous solution without any changes in original physicochemical properties for biomedical applications. The nanohybrids composed of BNNTs and the polymers/biomolecules will open attractive opportunities for nanoscience and nanotechnology for next-generation hybrid materials.
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