Nanodiamonds: unique nanoparticles for use in biomedicine and biotechnology

Abstract

Nanodiamonds are ultra-fine diamond particles, which due to their nano-scale size, unique physico-chemical properties, and a large ratio of easily chemically modifiable surface to volume, are of interest to biologists, chemists and physicists. This work is a review of the literature on their preparation, properties and perspectives related to the possibility of their use in biomedical sciences. The high biocompatibility of nanodiamonds, confirmed by a number of in vivo and in vitro studies, distinguishes them from other nanoparticles and allows their use as a neutral system for transporting biologically active compounds. Such nanoparticles can be used as carriers of peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, drugs or other synthetic compounds that will cause the intended biological effect in the body, in bioimaging and tissue engineering. Promising results of studies on different biological models suggest practical applications of nanotechnological solutions based on nanodiamonds.