Funtionalized Nanodiamonds for Biomedical Research and Therapy

Nanodiamonds are biocompatible nanoparticles, which can be functionalized by manifold surface modifications. Therefore, they are an excellent candidate for biomedical and even therapeutic applications. Here we aim at developing nanodiamonds labeled by different lattice modifications, such that they are detectable by various techniques, from microscopy and radiography to magnet resonance imaging. Modifying the nanodiamond lattice instead of its surface ensures that the nanoparticle and its label do not dissolve in physiologic environment. Additionally, it does not alter its interactions with the environment and hence the biocompatibility of the nanoparticle is preserved. A nanoparticle that is not detectable due to surface but to lattice modifications for the first time allows comparable investigations from the subcellular to organism level, eventually leading to the development of nanodiamond based tools for biomedical and therapeutic applications.