title: Functionalized fluorescent nanodiamonds for biomedical applications.
abstract: In recent years, carbon and carbon-based nanomaterials have received increasing attention for applications in life sciences. Nanodiamond (ND) stands out as a unique new substance in these applications because it holds several momentous properties such as good biocompatibility, excellent photostability and facile surface functionalizability. A number of experiments have shown that ND has the highest biocompatibility of all carbon-based nanomaterials including carbon blacks, multiwalled nanotubes, single-walled nanotubes and fullerenes. Additionally, the surface of ND can be readily derivatized with various functional groups for either covalent or noncovalent conjugation with biomolecules. Furthermore, some radiation-damaged NDs can emit strong and stable photoluminescence (red or green) from nitrogen-vacancy defect centers embedded in the crystal lattice. These properties together make ND a highly promising nanomaterial for both in vitro and in vivo applications.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Atomic & Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan 106, ROC.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vaijayanthimala
authors.forename: H-C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D019921:Biotinylation; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D018130:Diamond / Q000737:chemistry*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D049449:Luminescence; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D018130:Diamond; D004247:DNA