(Invited) Nanodiamonds and Bioapplications

Abstract

Like other nanocarbons, nanodiamond (ND) is the object of a rising interest from researchers, engineers and companies. Indeed, its outstanding properties, partly inhered from bulk diamond, are completed by new ones conferred at the nanoscale. Moreover, ND can host photostable luminescent color centers (NV, SiV, GeV,...) that can possess spin properties [1]. Combining these uncommon assets, ND are actively investigated for nanomedicine and bioapplications, quantum technologies, catalysis and energy applications, advanced composites and lubricants.After set the scene of ND and nanomedicine, this talk will focus on the recent developments of our research group towards bioapplications using ND differing by their origin (HPHT, detonation) and their surface chemistry. These studies are based on an extended characterization of ND. Toxicity issues will be discussed with investigations of the in vitro genotoxicity of HPHT ND and a comparative ecotoxicology study involving other nanocarbons. We will illustrate that ND can act as an efficient vector for biological species of interest, either grafted at its surface thanks to the versatile carbon chemistry or loaded by electrostatic interactions. Surprisingly, we have also demonstrated that detonation ND can behave as an active nanoparticle under gamma irradiation with a radiosensitization effect [2]. More recently, tritium labelled detonation ND allowed to explore the distribution throughout mouse organs and their excretion in urine and feces [3].