Biomolecule conjugates with nanodiamonds: preparation and application

ENGLISH ABSTRACT Fluorescent nanodiamonds are a perspective material for the preparation of fluorescent labels for bioimaging due to their stable fluorescence. Contrary to other compounds, nanodiamonds do not photobleach or photoblink. Furthermore, nanodiamonds emit fluorescence in the red part of the spectrum which is well separated from auto-fluorescence. However, before the employment of nanodiamonds as fluorescent labels in biological systems, several properties have to be improved. Primarily, their colloidal stability in biological media has to be ensured. Preventing of non-specific interactions of nanodiamonds with proteins is next crucial step. Finally, it is necessary to enable their high-yield further modifications with various molecules. Hydrophilic polymer coating surrounding a nanodiamond particle was introduced as a successful modification. Coated nanodiamonds were subsequently modified with transferrin or the inhibitor of glutamate carboxypeptidase II. These molecules bind specifically to receptors on cell membranes and enable cellular internalization. Nanodiamond conjugates were successfully prepared and the ability of binding to respective receptors was verified for the nanodiamond conjugate with the inhibitor of glutamate carboxypeptidase II. However, the effect of transferrin or the..