ABSTRACT
Nanodiamonds (NDs) are the most biocompatible representatives of the carbon nanofamily and are widely researched for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Unlike other carbon nanomaterials, the surface of NDs is innately reactive and contains diverse combinations of functional groups. Homogenizing the surface through oxidation or reduction allows conjugation of various chemical moieties to target specic actions. To date, NDs are conjugated to a range of inorganic and organic, natural, or synthetic functional groups both through physical adsorption and chemical immobilization. Functionalization of NDs also provides a chemical means to mitigate ND aggregation, which is considered a major challenge toward its biomedical applications. Physical approaches are also broadly utilized to produce well-dispersed stable ND dispersions. To maximize their utilization, the interaction of NDs with biological system at cellular and organism levels is also extensively investigated. High biocompatibility and anity for a diverse range of biomolecules and therapeutic agents make them attractive for nanomedicine especially as biomarkers and delivery vehicles. is chapter provides a detailed outlook regarding the structure, composition, and properties of NDs. Challenges associated with their utilization and recent approaches to overcome these challenges are elaborated. Diverse array of diagnostic and therapeutic applications of ND-based systems are presented.
