Fluorescent nanodiamonds and their use in biomedical research

Lorena P. Suarez-Kelly, Isaac V. Rampersaud, Charles E. Moritz, Amanda R. Campbell, Zhiwei Hu, Masfer H. Alkahtani, Fahad S. Alghannam, Phillip Hemmer, William E. Carson, Arfaan A. Rampersaud

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nanodiamonds containing color-centers produce non-quenching fluorescence that is easily detected. This makes them useful for cellular, proteomic and genomic applications. However, fluorescent nanodiamonds have yet to become popular in the biomedical research community as labeling reagents. We discuss production of nanodiamonds with distinct color-centers and assess their biocompatibility and techniques for bioconjugation. Fluorescent diamonds were fabricated by electron irradiation of high-pressure, high-temperature micron-sized diamonds which generated diamonds with vacancy-related defects (V). These diamonds were annealed to create nitrogen vacancy (NV)-centers then following a milling step were fractionated into nanoparticle sizes of 30, 60, and 95 nm. Optical characterization of Vand NV-center diamonds demonstrated fluorescence in two distinct green and red channels, respectively. In vitro studies demonstrated that these nanodiamonds are biocompatible and readily taken up by murine macrophage cells. Quantification of NV-center nanodiamond uptake by flow cytometry, showed that uptake was independent of nanodiamond size. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that NV-center nanodiamonds accumulate within the cytoplasm of these cells. NV-center nanodiamonds were then conjugated with streptavidin using a short polyethylene chain as linker. Conjugation was confirmed via a catalytic assay employing biotinylated-horseradish peroxidase. We present a technique for large-scale production of biocompatible conjugated V- or NV-center nanodiamonds. Functional testing is essential for standardization of fluorescent nanodiamond bioconjugates and quality control. Large-scale production of bioconjugated fluorescent nanodiamonds is crucial to their development as novel tools for biological and medical applications.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Photonics of Quantum Computing, Memory, and Communication IX
EditorsPhilip R. Hemmer, Alan L. Migdall, Hwang Lee, Zameer U. Hasan
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781628419979
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016
EventAdvances in Photonics of Quantum Computing, Memory, and Communication IX - San Francisco, United States
Duration: Feb 16 2016Feb 18 2016

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9762
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Other

OtherAdvances in Photonics of Quantum Computing, Memory, and Communication IX
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period02/16/1602/18/16

Keywords

  • NV-centers
  • Streptavidin
  • bioconjugation
  • flow cytometry
  • fluorescent nanodiamonds
  • nitrogen-vacancy
  • vacancy-related defects

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