UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 50
With reference to the carbon nanotubes, consider the following statement:
- They can be used as the carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body.
- They can be made. into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of human body.
- They can be used in biochemical sensors.
- Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Correct Option: C (1, 3 and 4 only)
Explanation: Carbon nanotubes can carry medicines/antigens and act as sensitive biochemical sensors. Selected engineered nanotube materials can undergo enzyme-mediated degradation, but practical artificial blood capillaries are not an established use.
Statement / Pair / Item-wise Analysis:
1. Correct - Functionalised carbon nanotubes have been researched as targeted drug and antigen carriers.
2. Incorrect - They are not an established technology for constructing functional artificial capillaries in injured humans.
3. Correct - Their conductivity and large surface area make them useful for biosensors.
4. Correct - Some nanotubes can be biodegraded by peroxidase-mediated pathways under certain conditions.
Option-wise Analysis:
A. Incorrect-includes incorrect item 2 (They are not an established technology for constructing functional artificial capillaries in injured humans); omits correct item 3 (Their conductivity and large surface area make them useful for biosensors); omits correct item 4 (Some nanotubes can be biodegraded by peroxidase-mediated pathways under certain conditions).
B. Incorrect-includes incorrect item 2 (They are not an established technology for constructing functional artificial capillaries in injured humans); omits correct item 1 (Functionalised carbon nanotubes have been researched as targeted drug and antigen carriers).
C. Correct-includes all and only valid statements/items 1, 3, 4.
D. Incorrect-includes incorrect item 2 (They are not an established technology for constructing functional artificial capillaries in injured humans).
Review note: Biodegradation depends strongly on nanotube type and functionalisation; many nanotubes remain environmentally persistent.