Abstract
Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-containing nanocomposite hydrogels have become extremely adaptable platforms with promising results in a range of environmental and medicinal applications. The use of MWCNTs improves adsorption capacity, electrical conductivity, mechanical robustness, and thermal stability—elements crucial for wastewater cleanup and drug delivery systems. Because of their improved mechanical stability, simplicity of production, and higher cost-effectiveness, MWCNTs are frequently chosen over single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). In addition to allowing for controlled medication release in response to physiological cues, such hybrid materials have demonstrated efficacious performance in the adsorption of organic dyes and heavy metals from contaminated water. Future clinical and environmental uses are made possible by functionalization, which also increases biocompatibility and therapeutic efficacy. However, challenges such as dispersion uniformity, long-term toxicity, and scale-up production persist. Addressing these limitations through interdisciplinary research and green engineering strategies will be vital to realizing the full potential of hydrogel-MWCNT nanocomposites. Continued interdisciplinary research, supported by advances in green synthesis and computational design, is critical to overcome these limitations and unlock the full potential of hydrogel-MWCNT composites in addressing pressing medical and environmental challenges.